New Delhi, June 10 -- Saudi Arabia is resuming issuing Umrah visas from today, 10 June, a day after the conclusion of the Hajj 2025. Over 1.6 million Muslims from more than 150 nations prayed in Mecca during the annual Islamic pilgrimage, the Saudi Arabian authorities said earlier.

The resumption of Umrah visas paves the way for international pilgrims to return to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The Kingdom's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had earlier confirmed the start of the new Umrah season, which means new batches of foreign pilgrims would arrive for the pilgrimage.

In April, to curb unauthorised Hajj pilgrimages and control inbound travel, Saudi Arabia suspended the issue of short-term visas for 14 countries: India, Pakistan, Ban...