RIYADH (MEMO) – Saudi Arabia has announced that female pilgrims performing Hajj or Umrah no longer require a mahram, or closely-related male guardian to accompany them. At a press conference at the Saudi Embassy in Cairo, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq al-Rabiah, said that women from any part of the world could visit the Two Holy Mosques without a mahram. Rabiah also mentioned that there is no cap in place for the number of Umrah visas issued to Muslims from all over the world. “Any Muslim coming to the kingdom with any type of visa can perform Umrah,” he said.