The Minister of Hajj Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed Hajjar announced today that as many as 1.4 million Umrah (minor Hajj) visas were issued so far all over Islamic countries. Under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense and Prince Muqrin bin Abdualziz Al Saud, the Second Deputy Premier, Advisor to and Special Envoy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Ministry of Hajj is enhancing its full cadres to participate in follow-up services provided to Umrah performers in Makkah and visitors of the Prophet's Mosque in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah. He said the number of Umrah performers is expected to increase to more than half a million compared to last year. The Minister said that Egypt, Pakistan, Algeria are top of the numbers of Umrah performers and predicted that 400,000 Umrah performers will arrive monthly during this season, denying that Al-Haram expansion constructions would negatively affect the smooth ritual-observance of huge numbers of Umrah performers.
