“The small number of pilgrims is threatening the success of the Umrah season and we expect huge financial losses,” said an industry source, adding that the Umrah season formally began on Feb. 18 (Rabiul Awwal 15).

“Umrah service operators, hotels, furnished apartments and retail shops are starting to feel the pinch because of the absence of pilgrims; they fear they may be in for huge financial losses,” said another source.

Faisal Abid, a businessman who leases buildings that he then sublets to Umrah companies, said he fears huge losses this year.

“This year I’ve rented buildings as usual but have been unable to sublet them to Umrah companies because of the small numbers of pilgrims,” he said.

Abid expects to incur huge losses as a result of his buildings remaining vacant. “I hope this will not continue for too long and that things return to normal in Arab countries otherwise I will lose a lot of money,” he said.

Talal Majoub, an investor and mutawwif, described this Umrah season as one of the worst in recent history because of the political developments in several Arab countries.

“The decision not to grant Umrah visas to pilgrims from Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Algeria has virtually paralyzed Umrah companies. We usually receive large numbers of pilgrims from Egypt but this year there are none,” he said, adding that only pilgrims from Turkey and Jordan have been able to come in large numbers so far this year.

Mazin Dirar, a member of the National Committee for Haj and Umrah at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that although about 350,000 Umrah visas have been issued this year, only a very few pilgrims have so far shown up. “The number of visas issued this year was 50,000 more than last year, but the number of pilgrims who actually arrived is far less,” he added.

Dirar said hotel occupancy, which was 100 percent this time last year, would not reach 75 percent this season.

“Last year, over 600,000 Umrah pilgrims came from Iran, but no more than 20 or 25 percent of that number will be able to make it this year due to events there,” he said. “The absence of pilgrims from countries where there is political unrest is adversely affecting Umrah companies, hotels, retail stores and the transport sector.”