MADINAH, Saudi Arabia, April 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bookme was once identified as a strategic spouse by way of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for enabling fast Umrah visa issuance in a first-of-its-kind initiative on the opening rite of the Umrah and Ziyarah Discussion board 2026.
The popularity displays Bookme’s position as an early contributor to the Ministry’s OTA Innovation Program, a strategic initiative geared toward increasing world get entry to to Umrah services and products via virtual platforms. This system is being led below the path of His Excellency Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah, and His Excellency Eng. Abdulmohsen bin Abdulrahman Al-Salem, Deputy Minister for Umrah Affairs.
The initiative was once carried out via a collaboration between Bookme, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and Elm Corporate, a key nationwide virtual infrastructure supplier. As a part of this collaboration, Bookme has enabled direct Umrah visa issuance inside of its platform, permitting Pakistani pilgrims to acquire visas via an absolutely virtual procedure.
What makes this step forward actually transformative is that all of the procedure is end-to-end computerized and immediately built-in with the Saudi govt’s legit visa issuance techniques. There is not any human intervention, no handbook processing, and no requirement for bodily documentation or in-person visits. The visa is issued via an absolutely virtual, seamless, and real-time device, offering customers with a one-click enjoy sponsored immediately by way of Saudi government.
The answer was once introduced all over the general ten days of Ramadan 2026, all over which Umrah visas have been issued throughout the platform.
Pakistan is among the greatest supply markets for Umrah pilgrims globally. The advent of direct virtual visa issuance is anticipated to fortify get entry to, transparency, and potency for pilgrims, whilst supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader goal of digitizing pilgrimage services and products below Imaginative and prescient 2030.
The carrier might be available via Bookme’s website online, cell programs, and built-in spouse platforms, together with banking and fintech programs. The device is immediately built-in with Saudi govt infrastructure and operates in genuine time, getting rid of the will for bodily visits, handbook documentation, or middleman processing.
The popularity was once officially introduced all over the outlet rite of the discussion board, the place Bookme’s Founder and CEO, Faizan Aslam, was once referred to as on level to obtain the acknowledgment. The rite happened within the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of the Madinah Area, along senior management from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Talking at the instance, Faizan Aslam mentioned:
“This is a historic moment, not just for Bookme, but for Pakistan. We are deeply honored that this agreement was signed by His Excellency the Minister himself at the world’s most important annual Hajj and Umrah gathering. This partnership will fundamentally change how Pakistani pilgrims access Umrah by making the process instant, direct, and completely frictionless. Most importantly, it is powered by a fully automated system directly integrated with Saudi authorities. This is only the beginning, and several additional initiatives are already in the pipeline as part of this long-term collaboration.”
Via enabling direct, totally virtual visa issuance inside of its platform, the initiative is anticipated to noticeably cut back reliance on intermediaries, decreasing total prices for shoppers whilst expanding transparency. Pilgrims will achieve larger flexibility and regulate over their adventure, with the facility to choose between a variety of choices together with 1000’s of inns, excursions, and Ziyarah reports, all to be had at direct, market-driven pricing. This style lets in customers to customise their trip in keeping with person personal tastes, transferring clear of inflexible, bundled programs towards a extra open and user-centric method to Umrah making plans.
Bookme operates throughout 5 markets and has expanded its regional presence as a part of Pakistan’s broader era export tasks. The corporate’s access into Saudi Arabia was once supported throughout the Particular Funding Facilitation Council (SIFC) below its mission growth initiative, which incorporated Bookme’s participation within the Pakistan IT Minister’s delegation to Saudi Arabia in 2023. Since then, Bookme has established a couple of strategic partnerships inside the Kingdom. The corporate continues to function an internet trip company spouse for the Saudi Tourism Authority, supporting its efforts to advertise tourism and beef up accessibility for the Pakistani marketplace.
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