Uzbekistan asks Saudi Arabia to increase quota for Umrah

A representative of the Committee for Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan noted that Uzbekistan intends to appeal to Saudi Arabia with a request to increase the quota for Umrah pilgrimage to 10,000 people from 2018.

Currently, annually some 6,000 citizens of Uzbekistan carry out small pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

The government of Saudi Arabia can adopt a decision on this issue in early 2018.

Total quota for pilgrims from Uzbekistan to Saudi Arabia increased by 20% in 2017 compared to 2016 – to 13,200 people. Some 7,200 people from Uzbekistan will conduct Hajj pilgrimage (+1.4 times) and 6,000 people – perform Umrah pilgrimage.