Saudi Arabia has announced a prohibition on performing more than one Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan. Authorities have clarified that repeating the Umrah pilgrimage in Mecca during the fasting month is not allowed in order to alleviate overcrowding.
Ramadan signifies the peak season for Umrah pilgrimage at Islam’s holiest site, the Grand Mosque, with millions of Muslims expected to visit the kingdom for this purpose.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has emphasized that no permits will be issued for performing two or more Umrahs during Ramadan, urging believers to adhere to the restrictions. This measure aims to reduce congestion, provide others with the opportunity to perform Umrah, and facilitate crowd management.
Umrah permits can be obtained through the Nusuk app. However, when attempting to obtain a permit for the second time, a message appears stating: “The permit issuance fails. To give everyone the chance to perform Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage cannot be repeated in Ramadan.”
During Ramadan, Muslims from around the world travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and offer prayers. Unlike Hajj, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year.
To manage the anticipated influx, Saudi authorities have implemented several measures to facilitate worshippers in performing rituals smoothly and prevent any untoward incidents. Specific entry and exit gates have been allocated for pilgrims at mosques to mitigate overcrowding.
Following the conclusion of the Umrah season, preparations will commence for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, scheduled to begin in June this year. Saudi Arabian authorities are expecting around 2 million pilgrims for this year’s Hajj season.
