Qatar Joins Saudi Arabia, Uae, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain And Other Middle Eastern Countries In Skyrocketing Religious Tourism With New Visa Policy: Everything You Need To Know

Published on October 8, 2025

Qatar has joined Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and different Middle Eastern countries successful driving nan surge successful belief tourism. With its caller visa policy, Qatar enhances entree to Hajj and Umrah, making nan visit acquisition much seamless for Muslim travelers. This strategical move positions Qatar arsenic a starring destination for belief tourism successful nan region, complementing nan efforts of its neighbors to modernize and grow services for millions of pilgrims. By simplifying visa processes and introducing tailored services, Qatar is making it easier for some Qatari nationals and residents, arsenic good arsenic world pilgrims, to undertake their belief journeys. With a attraction connected inclusivity, sustainability, and modern technology, Qatar is taking important strides successful reshaping nan belief tourism scenery successful nan Middle East.

Qatar: Pioneering Faith-Aware Travel and Sustainability

Qatar has positioned itself arsenic a starring destination for faith-aware and sustainable travel. With 13,944 pilgrims expected for Hajj successful 2025, including 13,530 Qatari nationals and 470 residents, Qatar’s tourism policies attraction connected inclusivity and accessibility for Muslim travelers. The carbon-neutral efforts implemented during nan 2022 FIFA World Cup, including eco-friendly stadiums and energy-efficient accommodations, item Qatar’s committedness to sustainable tourism. Qatar Airways supports this by offering specialized services for Muslim travelers, specified arsenic Halal meals and prayer spaces connected flights. Furthermore, Qatar has tailored experiences for solo female travelers, pinch women-only packages designed to guarantee their comfortableness and information during belief pilgrimages. These initiatives not only make Qatar an charismatic destination for Muslim travelers but besides heighten nan visit acquisition by integrating modern exertion pinch accepted practices.

Visa Policy:

• Hajj Visa: For Qatari nationals and residents done nan Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
  • Fee: Government fees are typically bundled pinch Hajj packages. Estimated interest is astir SAR 2,000 to SAR 3,000.
• Umrah Visa: Includes requirements for confirmed accommodation and transportation.
  • Fee: Approximately SAR 500 for residents.

Saudi Arabia: Leading nan Future of Religious Tourism

Saudi Arabia, location to Islam’s holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, is astatine nan forefront of belief tourism, peculiarly for Hajj and Umrah. In 2023, 1.845 million pilgrims attended Hajj, pinch 1.66 million coming from complete 180 countries, alongside 184,000 home pilgrims. The Kingdom’s efforts to modernize and prolong belief tourism are evident successful its Vision 2030 plan, which integrates exertion done nan “Eatmarna” app for Umrah bookings, reducing crowding and streamlining experiences. Saudi Arabia’s sustainability attraction is reflected successful initiatives to little nan carbon footprint of wide gatherings, pinch efforts successful waste management and eco-friendly infrastructure. Furthermore, nan Red Sea Project aligns pinch nan increasing request for environmentally conscious luxury resorts. The state has besides made strides successful supporting female travelers, pinch measures to guarantee solo women tin execute their belief duties independently. Saudi Arabia is group to big complete 18.5 million pilgrims successful 2024, pinch 16.9 million Umrah performers and 1.61 million for Hajj.

Visa Policy:

• Hajj Visa: Exclusively for Hajj, valid only during nan visit period.
  • Fee: Typically included successful recreation package costs, but government-imposed visa fees whitethorn scope from SAR 2,000 to SAR 3,000.
• Umrah Visa: Separate from tourer visas, pilgrims must show confirmation of accommodation and transportation.
  • Fee: Umrah visa fees scope from SAR 300 to SAR 500 depending connected nan visa type and processing time.
• Application: Must beryllium processed done approved recreation agents aliases nan Nusuk platform.

UAE: Innovation successful Religious Travel and Sustainability

The UAE plays a captious domiciled successful facilitating Muslim travel, particularly to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah. Dubai International Airport (DXB), a awesome transit hub, welcomed complete 17 million world visitors successful 2023, pinch galore walking to Mecca. The UAE’s committedness to inclusive and sustainable belief tourism includes services for illustration dream rooms, Halal nutrient options, and AI-powered recreation apps. The Digital Hajj Services platform, which assisted complete 100,000 pilgrims successful 2023, epitomizes nan UAE’s finance successful modernizing belief travel. In summation to improving visa processes successful collaboration pinch Saudi Arabia, nan UAE’s luxury and sustainable tourism initiatives are revolutionizing belief tourism. The hose Amal transported an mean of 20,000 Umrah pilgrims monthly betwixt January and April 2024, pinch projections to summation this to 40,000 annually complete nan adjacent fewer years. These advancements heighten nan wide visit acquisition while ensuring that biology and belief needs are met.

Visa Policy:

• Hajj Visa: UAE residents use done charismatic agencies; includes a valid passport and UAE residence visa.
  • Fee: Typically included successful package costs; approximate interest SAR 2,500.
• Umrah Visa: Requires confirmed accommodation and carrier arrangements.
  • Fee: Approximately SAR 500 for UAE nationals and residents, pinch further fees for processing.

Oman: Authentic Religious Travel Experiences

Oman’s attack to belief tourism is grounded successful authenticity and cultural immersion, offering a unsocial acquisition for Muslim travelers. Although Oman doesn’t person nan aforesaid visit postulation arsenic Saudi Arabia, its attraction connected eco-tourism and sustainable belief travel makes it a increasing destination. In 2025, Oman is expected to nonstop astir 13,944 pilgrims for Hajj, mirroring Qatar’s involvement. Oman emphasizes nan preservation of its earthy landscapes, specified arsenic its eco-friendly resorts and practice sites, creating an situation wherever pilgrims tin immerse themselves successful some Islamic history and nature. Special initiatives are besides being implemented to amended accessibility for female and abnormal travelers. Oman’s increasing accent connected low-impact tourism ensures that travelers tin acquisition some belief and biology harmony, providing a sanctuary for those seeking bid and authenticity during their belief journeys.

Visa Policy:

• Hajj Visa: Issued done Oman’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs; includes a valid Omani ID and vaccination certificates.
  • Fee: Fees scope betwixt SAR 2,000 and SAR 3,000, limited connected recreation agencies and packages.
• Umrah Visa: Issued pinch akin requirements, including confirmed accommodation and transportation.
  • Fee: Similar to Hajj, SAR 500 for processing.

Kuwait: Halal Tourism and Sustainable Religious Travel

Kuwait is steadily rising arsenic a hub for Halal tourism and sustainable belief travel. In 2023, astir 1,789 Bidoon (stateless residents) were registered for Hajj done nan Ministry of Awqaf’s physics portal. Kuwait’s policies attraction connected green building initiatives, promoting eco-friendly practices that align pinch nan increasing request for sustainable belief travel. The state besides offers Halal food, prayer spaces, and religious services successful cardinal tourism locations, ensuring that nan needs of Muslim travelers are met. Kuwait’s infrastructure enhancements besides attraction connected accessibility, making belief recreation much inclusive, peculiarly for women travelers and nan elderly. While Kuwait doesn’t yet person circumstantial Umrah statistics, its ongoing efforts are shaping it into a cardinal subordinate successful nan Muslim recreation market, peculiarly for those seeking little commercialized and much belief experiences.

Visa Policy:

• Hajj Visa: Available for Kuwaitis and residents; requires exertion done nan Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.
  • Fee: Costs typically see visa fees and work fees, pinch a wide scope of SAR 2,500.
• Umrah Visa: Similar to nan Hajj visa process, requiring accommodation confirmation.
  • Fee: Approximately SAR 500.

Bahrain: Combining Heritage pinch Modern Religious Travel

Bahrain is positioning itself arsenic a destination that blends its rich | Islamic heritage pinch modern tourism amenities. While Bahrain’s circumstantial Hajj and Umrah statistics for 2023 are not readily available, nan country’s accent connected family-friendly visit experiences, particularly for multi-generational Muslim families, is gaining traction. Bahrain besides focuses connected accessible tourism, ensuring services are disposable for elderly and disabled pilgrims. The country’s green tourism efforts, including nan improvement of eco-friendly resorts, align pinch nan request for much sustainable travel. Bahrain’s committedness to preserving its Islamic practice sites further enhances its entreaty to belief travelers, offering a equilibrium of modern comforts pinch belief fulfillment. As Bahrain continues to beforehand its Formula 1 Grand Prix and different world events, it is establishing itself arsenic a move destination for Muslim travelers seeking some practice and modernity successful their belief recreation experiences.

Visa Policy:

• Hajj Visa: Available done Bahrain’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, requiring a valid Bahraini ID and confirmed recreation bookings.
  • Fee: Visa fees for Hajj alteration from SAR 2,500 to SAR 3,000, depending connected nan recreation package.
• Umrah Visa: Pilgrims require impervious of confirmed accommodation and transport, arsenic good arsenic a valid Bahraini ID.
  • Fee: Fees for Umrah visas are typically SAR 500.

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Qatar expects 13,944 Hajj pilgrims successful 2025, owed to it’s sustainable recreation experiences. By joining Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and different Middle Eastern countries, Qatar drives nan surge successful belief tourism pinch its caller visa policy.

Conclusion

Qatar expects 13,944 Hajj pilgrims successful 2025. By joining Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and different Middle Eastern countries, Qatar is playing a pivotal domiciled successful nan surge of belief tourism. The country’s caller visa argumentation enhances entree to Hajj and Umrah, simplifying nan visit process for some nationals and residents. Qatar’s committedness to sustainability is evident successful its eco-friendly initiatives, including nan carbon-neutral efforts seen during nan 2022 FIFA World Cup. Specialized services from Qatar Airways, specified arsenic Halal meals and dream spaces, cater to nan needs of Muslim travelers. Moreover, tailored women-only packages guarantee that solo female pilgrims consciousness safe and secure. As Qatar integrates modern exertion pinch accepted practices, it is positioned arsenic a starring destination for Muslim travelers, helping style nan early of belief tourism successful nan region.