RIYADH – The Saudi Arabian government has implemented a ban on performing more than one Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan.
Authorities have confirmed that repeating the performance of Umrah, or minor pilgrimage, in Mecca during the fasting month cannot alleviate overcrowding.
Ramadan is a peak season for Umrah 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 in Ramadan, urging believers to adhere to the restrictions.
The ministry has stated that this measure aims to ease congestion, allow others to perform Umrah, and assist in crowd management.
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Umrah permits can be obtained through the Nusuk app. However, when attempting to obtain a permit for the second time, a message states: “The permit issuance fails. The lesser pilgrimage can’t be repeated in Ramadan to give everyone the chance to perform Umrah.”
During Ramadan, Muslims worldwide come to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and offer prayers. Unlike Hajj, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year.
To handle the anticipated influx, Saudi authorities have implemented various measures to facilitate worshipers in performing rituals smoothly and prevent incidents.
Specific gates of the mosques have been designated for pilgrims’ entry and exit to prevent overcrowding. After the Umrah season, the government will prepare for Hajj, which will commence in June this year. Saudi Arabian authorities expect to welcome around 2 million pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season.
