With the peak Umrah season approaching, Saudi authorities have urged pilgrims to use designated gates when entering the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam’s holiest site.

The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques has assigned specific gates for Umrah pilgrims to access the Mataf (circumambulation) area. These include King Fahd Gate (No. 79), Ajyad Gate (No. 3), and Umrah Gate (No. 62). The agency emphasized that knowing the gate numbers and designated exits from the Mataf and Mas’a areas will help worshippers move smoothly within the Grand Mosque, especially during peak hours.

Exit routes from the Mas’a area have been set on both the ground and first floors via the Al Shabika, Ajyad, and Al Abbas bridges.

The key rituals of Umrah include performing Tawaf—circling the Holy Kaaba seven times—and Sa’i, which involves walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah within the Grand Mosque.

The current Umrah season, which runs throughout the year, commenced in late June following the completion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

With Ramadan expected to begin on March 1 this year, Saudi authorities are intensifying preparations to manage the surge of pilgrims, as Umrah visits typically peak during the holy month.