Saudi Arabia has recently declared a new dress code for female pilgrims visiting the Grand Mosque in Makkah for the Umrah pilgrimage. The announcement was made by the country’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing the importance of comfort and modesty, in accordance with Islamic teachings.
The new guidelines allow women to choose their attire during the Umrah, provided it adheres to certain conditions. The outfits should be loosely fitted, devoid of any decorative elements, and must cover the entire body. This move is seen as an effort to ensure that the religious sentiments and traditions associated with the pilgrimage are respected while also providing some flexibility to the pilgrims.
As the Umrah season picks up momentum, Saudi Arabia is preparing to welcome approximately 10 million international Muslim visitors to the Grand Mosque. This follows the Hajj season, which witnessed nearly 1.8 million participants, marking the largest gathering in three years since the onset of the pandemic.
Umrah is a pilgrimage undertaken by many Muslims who are unable to perform Hajj due to physical or financial constraints. In recent times, Saudi Arabia has introduced several amenities to make this journey more accessible for global visitors.
Muslims holding various types of visas, including personal, visit, and tourist visas, can now schedule an e-appointment to perform Umrah. Furthermore, the duration of the Umrah visa has been extended from 30 to 90 days, allowing pilgrims to enter and exit the country through any mode – land, air, or sea.
Women pilgrims no longer required a male guardian to accompany them. Expatriates residing in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can obtain a tourist visa, irrespective of their job roles, enabling them to perform Umrah.