Umrah application date extended

Minister of Haj Bandar Hajjar has extended the deadline for Umrah visa applications to Ramadan 10, which corresponds to July 18.
He told Arab News that the purpose of the extension was to allow more visitors to perform Umrah.
“We extended the period for Umrah visa applications, which was supposed to end at the end of Shaban (July 8), because we want to give an opportunity to as many pilgrims as possible to perform Umrah,” he said.
Hajjar said that while his ministry limited the number of people wanting to perform Umrah this year because of the expansion projects, it did not want to prevent Muslims from performing their religious obligations.
The expansion, which the Saudi government is now carrying out, would make it easier for Muslims to perform their duties in future, he said.
Deputy Haj Minister Hatem Qadi said 4.5 million pilgrims performed Umrah since the season started, with only 300,000 remaining in the Kingdom.
Hajjar issued directives two months ago that visas would only be given for two weeks instead of the usual 30 days.
“We’ve limited the number of Umrah visitors this year because of the ongoing expansion projects,” Qadi said.
Abdullah Al-Qadi, vice chairman of the National Committee for Haj and Umrah, welcomed the ministry’s move. He said visitors should understand that a massive expansion is under way.
In an earlier statement, the Haj Ministry said the reduction of domestic Haj pilgrims by 50 percent and international pilgrims by 20 percent was “exceptional and temporary” because of the ongoing expansion projects.
The expansion projects undertaken by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is the biggest in the history of the holy places, with work being carried out in areas frequented by people 24/7.
The expansion takes into account people with special needs on the first floor by linking it through a system of lifts and ramps.