Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia has issued more than 5.5 million visas to prospective pilgrims since the current Umrah season started in late October 2018, according to the Ministry of Haj and Umrah.

In its weekly statistical report, the ministry said a total of 5,502,111 visas were issued with 5,052,735 Umrah pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom by Thursday, Rajab 28.

The ministry said 4,551,364 pilgrims performed Umrah and departed for their respective home countries while 501,371 were currently in the holy cities completing their pilgrimage rites.

The ministry said 351,770 pilgrims were in Makkah and 149,601 in Madinah paying homage to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and praying at his mosque.

As many as 4,508,472 pilgrims arrived by air, 487,241 overland and 57,022 by sea.

The ministry said Pakistan, with 1,174,947 pilgrims, continued to be on top of all other countries in the number of the Umrah performers, followed by Indonesia, which has sent 789,486 Umrah pilgrims so far.

It said the third largest contingent of pilgrims came from India, which sent 491,195 people to perform Umrah. Egypt sent 302,398 pilgrims, Yemen and Turkey 240,461 each, and Malaysia 237,988 pilgrims. They were followed by 217,546 Algerians, 171,485 Iraqis and 140,862 Jordanians.

The ministry said the pilgrims were served by more than 10,436 Saudis working with the Umrah companies. They consisted of 8,659 men and 1,777 women.