According to a report issued by the ministry, Iranian pilgrims received the largest number of Umrah visas, followed by Egyptians, Pakistanis and Turks.

“As many as 3,855,564 pilgrims have arrived in Madinah since the beginning of the Umrah season this year,” the report said.

“By next month, 1,330,636 more Umrah pilgrims are expected to arrive,” it added.

The report said special panels set up for monitoring pilgrim services have conducted 14,347 field visits, especially at centers for the departure of pilgrims from Madinah.

The panels found 2,496 violations and complaints.

“Our panels have provided 19,751 services ever since the beginning of Umrah season this year,” the ministry said. “They include providing guidance to stranded pilgrims, handing over lost items and solving complaints of pilgrims,” it said.

Meanwhile, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah has so far received 2.4 million pilgrims during this Umrah season, showing an increase of 109 percent compared to last year. The pilgrims arrived on a total of 14,200 flights.

“There was a 62 percent increase in the number of Umrah flights compared to last year,” said an official statement issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

Faisal Al-Sugair, president of GACA, visited the airport on Tuesday to inspect the arrangements made for receiving the growing numbers of Umrah pilgrims, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

In a related development, about 20,000 Umrah pilgrims have arrived through Jeddah Islamic Port, according to Saher Tahlawi, director of the port.