Passengers travelling from Karachi to Saudi Arabia have been given more time to meet the mandatory vaccination requirements. The extension applies to Umrah pilgrims and other passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia from Karachi.
According to a circular, verification of vaccination certificates at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi will begin at 10:00 AM on November 20, 2026. The checks were earlier scheduled to start on October 15.
What are the vaccination requirements?
Under the earlier announcement, passengers were required to carry a vaccination card to travel to Saudi Arabia.
Passengers without a vaccination card would not be allowed to travel under the mandatory vaccination rules.
Passengers have been advised to get vaccinated at least 10 days before their departure. This will give them enough time to complete the required process before travelling.
Where can passengers get vaccinated?
Vaccination services are available around the clock at the government dispensary at Karachi Airport.
An emergency vaccination facility is also available in the departure lounge. It is intended to help pilgrims and other passengers arriving from remote areas who need vaccination services before their journey.
Saudi Arabia’s digital service for Umrah pilgrims
Recently, Saudi authorities have introduced new digital services for Umrah pilgrims. These services allow visitors to check real-time crowd levels at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah through their mobile phones.
The new facilities will help pilgrims plan their visits and choose suitable times to avoid large crowds.
How can pilgrims find the best time for Tawaf and Sa’i?
Through the digital service, visitors can check crowd levels around the Holy Kaaba, where Tawaf is performed.
They can also check the crowd situation along the route between Safa and Marwah, where pilgrims perform Sa’i.
This service will help pilgrims check crowd conditions before reaching the holy mosques. They can use this information to choose times when the areas are less crowded and perform their religious rituals more easily.
