Anwarulhaq Baig
NEW DELHI—The Kingodm of Saudi Arabia has taken a significant initiative to facilitate performance of Umrah and visit to Prophet’s Mosque from around the world.
The new initiative allows women to perform Umrah without a male guardian, thus widening the possibilities for many Muslims to undertake the pilgrimage.
The initiative will benefit Indian Muslims wishing to perform Umrah and visit the Masjid-e-Nabawi and the Mausoleum of the Prophet.
India ranks third highest among countries based on the number of Umrah pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia every year.
According to Saudi government, the number of Umrah pilgrims from India year was 1.8 million during the last year, that is 18 lakh. Saudi authorities expect India pilgrims number go up to 1.37 million yearly.
The significance of India for the Umrah sector was highlighted in the first visit by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, in early December 2023. During the visit, His Excellency met with senior Indian government officials to explore joint opportunities to overcome challenges and increase the number of Muslim visitors from India.
The Saudi Minister met investors and agencies in the Indian Umrah, travel and tourism sector on the sidelines of the ‘Introduction Meeting’ held by the unified government platform ‘Nusuk’ (nusuk.sa) from 4-6 December in Mumbai and New Delhi.
The event aimed to showcase the unique services and unprecedented facilities offered by the platform to Muslim guests from around the world, including those from India. Dr Al-Rabiah heard their concerns, outlined initial solutions to meet the needs of Indian Muslims and set the stage for collaboration.
The official “Nusuk” platform, known for its user-friendly features, is one of the most effective solutions launched by Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Saudi Tourism Authority. The platform collaborates with over 300 partners in accommodation, transport, air tickets and logistics services. It simplifies the procedure of obtaining an electronic visa to automate access procedures for Umrah and visits to the Prophet’s Mosque, regardless of the type of visa issued. The platform also assists with visits to historical sites in Mecca and Madina, providing an exceptional spiritual experience for guests of the Rahman throughout the year.
This is in line with Saudi Arabia’s commitment to ease access for the global community, with a focus on India. Among these decisions is the availability of Umrah and visits throughout the year, except during the Hajj season. Moreover, women can perform Umrah without a male guardian, thus widening the possibilities for many Muslims to undertake the pilgrimage.
To enhance the Umrah experience for visitors in general and ease visits to Mecca and Madina, the Saudi government has introduced the high-speed Haramain train. This electrically powered train operates at speeds of up to 300 km/hour, offering various routes between Mecca and Madina. The train provides speed, safety, and comfort for travellers, ranking among the world’s top 10 fastest trains. It set a record between March 23 and April 25, 2023, carrying 930,000 passengers.
