Saudi authorities have warned Muslims planning to go on Umrah, a minor pilgrimage, in the kingdom about certain banned items they shouldn’t bring along. The Ministry of Hajj stated that fireworks are not allowed, along with other things like lasers, fake money, and unregistered medicines. They advised pilgrims to check for these items before entering the country.
This caution comes as Umrah activities peak during Ramadan at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Umrah involves two main rituals: circling the Holy Kaaba and walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa. To manage crowds, Saudi Arabia has banned doing Umrah more than once during Ramadan. They encourage pilgrims to do only one Umrah to reduce congestion and allow more people the opportunity to perform it.
To handle the large number of pilgrims, authorities have implemented various measures. They’ve designated specific areas for Umrah activities and established separate entry and exit points to prevent overcrowding. Last year, a record 13.5 million pilgrims visited Saudi Arabia for Umrah, according to the Minister of Hajj and Umrah.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia has improved facilities for overseas Muslims coming for Umrah. They now allow Umrah visits for those holding different types of entry visas, such as personal, visit, or tourism visas. Booking an e-appointment is necessary to visit Al Rawda Al Sharifa in the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. Additionally, the Umrah visa duration has been extended from 30 to 90 days, and women no longer need male guardians to accompany them.
Moreover, expatriates in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries can apply for a tourist visa to perform Umrah, regardless of their profession. These efforts aim to make the pilgrimage experience smoother and more accessible for Muslims worldwide.
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