King Salman Orders Hosting of 1,000 Umrah Pilgrims from 16 Countries.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has issued a royal decree approving the hosting of 1,000 male and female Umrah pilgrims from around the world. The prestigious initiative will be covered entirely at the King’s personal expense under the Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit.

The implementation of the directive will be fully managed and supervised by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call, and Guidance.

Phased Implementation Across the 1448 AH Islamic Year

To ensure maximum operational support and a seamless pilgrimage experience, the royal program will be rolled out in four distinct phases throughout the Islamic year 1448 AH.

The initial rollout will immediately benefit hundreds of pilgrims across East and Southeast Asia:

• The First Batch: The opening phase will welcome 250 Umrah performers.
• Regional Coverage: This first group spans 16 Asian countries, selecting religious scholars, clerics, and influential community figures.
• Participating Nations: Selected guests will arrive from Indonesia, East Timor, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mongolia.

Strengthening Global Islamic Bonds and Communication

Expressing deep gratitude following the royal decree, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call, and Guidance—who also serves as the General Supervisor of the program—Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, extended his thanks to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Sheikh Al-Sheikh emphasized that the initiative goes far beyond providing financial travel relief for sacred journeys. He noted that the program directly reflects Saudi Arabia’s core humanitarian and religious mission, serving as a vital mechanism to build strategic bridges of communication with Islamic scholars and global communities. By bringing diverse cultures together, the Kingdom aims to foster deeper ties of unity, shared heritage, and mutual understanding across the global Muslim Ummah.