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Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj to Asharq Al-Awsat: Number of Umrah Performers Has Noticeably Increased

Umrah performers are seen in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
Umrah performers are seen in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
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Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj to Asharq Al-Awsat: Number of Umrah Performers Has Noticeably Increased

Umrah performers are seen in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
Umrah performers are seen in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)

Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Abdul Fattah Mashat revealed on Monday that the Kingdom has witnessed a noticeable increase in the number of Umrah performers from abroad.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he also underlined the increase in the capacity at the two Holy Mosques – the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

Umrah performers started flocking to the Kingdom a month and a half ago. Their numbers are expected to surpass previous seasons, especially after Saudi authorities worked tirelessly in facilitating travel to Umrah performers from across the globe.

Mashat told Asharq Al-Awsat that the greatest number of performers have arrived from Pakistan, Indonesia, India, Iraq, Yemen and Bangladesh.

He predicted that the figures will only increase, crediting the ease of obtaining visas and communicating with service providers to the Nusuk platform.

Nusuk allows applicants to submit their Umrah application directly through the platform.

Mashat described the platform as the most remarkable digital and technical transformation that services the visitors of the two Holy Mosques.

It now acts as a comprehensive platform through which the visitors can plan their Umrah, starting from their visa application. It offers them several services that ensure that the performers have a smooth journey. It features interactive maps and a guide to historic locations.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is forging ahead in taking advantage of the digital transformation to serve the visitors, stressed Mashat.

Asked about the goal to attract 30 million Umrah performers, he said it can be achieved through a number of initiatives, such as extending the Umrah season, reducing visa processing times and facilitating arrival procedures.

He noted the Saudi Visa Bio app that allows travelers to upload their travel documents on to the platform before their arrival to the Kingdom. The app has so far been tested on visitors from Britain, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Tunisia and Kuwait.

Mashat stressed that the Saudi leadership is very keen on serving the Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. This has been demonstrated through the expansion of the Grand Mosque and holy sites, which were among the world’s grandest projects in terms of cost and area covered.

He highlighted the establishment of the Pilgrim Experience Program that includes all parties concerned with the organization of the Hajj and Umrah with the aim of hosting more visitors, providing high quality services and enriching their religious and cultural experience through visits to historic Islamic sites in Makkah and Madinah.

Moreover, Mashat highlighted the organization of the Umrah and how the new arrangements allowed the arrival of visitors through different visas, such as a family, personal or tourist visa, visa on arrival, and transit visa. Furthermore, the duration of the Umrah visa has been extended to 90 days and the condition for women to travel with a legal guardian (mahram) has been lifted.

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Gulf

Saudi Crown Prince Receives Calls from Turkish, Lebanese and German Leaders Condemning Houthi Attacks

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Calls from Turkish, Lebanese and German Leaders Condemning Houthi Attacks

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (SPA)

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received phone calls Tuesday from Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during which the leaders condemned the Houthi attacks targeting the Kingdom and affirmed their solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the face of threats to its security and stability.

During the call, Merz expressed Germany's condemnation of the terrorist Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, which threaten the Kingdom's security and stability, reaffirming his country's support and solidarity with the Kingdom.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral cooperation and ways to strengthen it across several fields.

For his part, the Lebanese president condemned the attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and its vital facilities and threatening its security and stability. He reaffirmed Lebanon's full solidarity with the Kingdom and its support in confronting anything that could undermine its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Turkish president, meanwhile, strongly condemned the Houthi attacks targeting Saudi territory, expressing his sorrow and condolences over the victims of the attacks. He reaffirmed Türkiye's support for the Kingdom in the period ahead and expressed confidence in its ability to overcome these challenges.

Gulf

Coalition Urges Civilians to Evacuate Yemen Petroleum Company Station in Sanaa

Coalition Urges Civilians to Evacuate Yemen Petroleum Company Station in Sanaa
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Coalition Urges Civilians to Evacuate Yemen Petroleum Company Station in Sanaa

Coalition Urges Civilians to Evacuate Yemen Petroleum Company Station in Sanaa

Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki stated that the Joint Coalition Forces Command called on civilians, for their own safety, to evacuate the Yemen Petroleum Company's Al-Sabaha Central Station in Sanaa.

The Coalition announced earlier on Tuesday that it would issue the warning ahead of a targeted operation, adding that details of the warning would be announced later.

The announcement comes as the coalition intercepted and destroyed three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) north of Riyadh, SPA reported.

The warning is expected to identify the targeted site and call on civilians to evacuate and stay away from the area for their safety.

Gulf

Qatar’s Emir: Protecting the Stability of GCC Countries is a Shared Responsibility

FILED - 02 October 2024, Qatar, Doha: FILE PHOTO - Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani speaks during a press conference in Doha. Photo: -/Iranian Presidency/dpa
FILED - 02 October 2024, Qatar, Doha: FILE PHOTO - Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani speaks during a press conference in Doha. Photo: -/Iranian Presidency/dpa
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Qatar’s Emir: Protecting the Stability of GCC Countries is a Shared Responsibility

FILED - 02 October 2024, Qatar, Doha: FILE PHOTO - Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani speaks during a press conference in Doha. Photo: -/Iranian Presidency/dpa
FILED - 02 October 2024, Qatar, Doha: FILE PHOTO - Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani speaks during a press conference in Doha. Photo: -/Iranian Presidency/dpa

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday called for closer security coordination among Gulf countries. He also called for stepped-up efforts to secure maritime routes in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and energy infrastructure.

Speaking to the Shura Council, the Emir said that his country had been “attacked on its territory by Iran, in a blatant violation of its sovereignty, the provisions of international law, and the principles of good-neighborly relations,” stressing that the armed forces and security agencies had carried out their duty to defend the country.

He emphasized that Qatar would not abandon its approach based on dialogue and negotiation, but would not hesitate to protect its sovereignty, saying: “Our commitment to dialogue and peaceful solutions does not mean compromising the defense of our country, just as our right to defend our sovereignty does not conflict with our determination to prevent the war from expanding.”

He said recent events had demonstrated the interconnected nature of regional and global security and the impossibility of isolating the repercussions of conflicts from the global economy and international stability.

He stressed the need for continued cooperation and coordination among the Gulf Cooperation Council states, noting that protecting the sovereignty and stability of GCC countries is a shared responsibility. He added that Qatar would continue working with its regional and international partners to preserve security in the region.

He explained that Qatar had confronted the crisis through a four-track strategy: defending the country without being drawn into war; ensuring the continuity of services, supply chains, and economic activity; contributing to efforts to achieve a ceasefire and reopen waterways; and pushing for the resumption of negotiations and the achievement of peaceful settlements.

On the economy, the Emir revealed that a significant portion of the country’s exports had been disrupted as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the direct damage sustained by some energy facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City.

He noted that Qatar supplies around one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas (LNG), meaning that any disruption to its exports has a direct impact on energy markets and consumers worldwide.

He explained that the repercussions of the crisis were concentrated primarily in the energy sector, while non-hydrocarbon sectors continued to grow, accounting for around 80 percent of real gross domestic product, according to figures presented in his speech.

He also revealed that total public revenues fell by 42 percent during the first half of the year, while expenditures declined by 14 percent, stressing that the government had decided not to reduce essential services or alter its development priorities despite the financial pressures.

He said the state had confronted the crisis by relying on earlier policies that included strengthening financial reserves, reducing public debt, and developing non-oil revenues. At the same time, he called for continued fiscal discipline and greater efficiency in public spending.

The Emir announced projects and investment opportunities valued at approximately 221 billion Qatari riyals (about $60.7 billion) over the next five years. These include infrastructure projects and public-private partnerships, as well as investments in real estate and hospitality.

He noted that the Qatari economy recorded real growth of 2.9 percent in 2025, while average inflation remained stable at 0.5 percent. The country also posted a current account surplus and maintained its high sovereign credit ratings.

The Qatari Emir also accused Israel of committing crimes in the Gaza Strip that constitute “genocide.” He called for holding Israeli officials accountable.