Jeddah: Approving restructuring of the visa system for Haj and Umrah pilgrims as well as for visitors and transit passengers, the Council of Ministers cancelled fee for repeating Umrah pilgrimage. The Cabinet also unified the visa fee for issuing the visa for each person at a rate of SR300.
As reported by Saudi Gazette, earlier an Umrah pilgrim had to pay SR2,000 in case of repeating the pilgrimage during a period of three years, but now the rule has been revoked and the pilgrims need not pay Umrah fees twice.
According to the report, some new regulations are also being imposed for Haj and Umrah pilgrims, like the selection of travel with an organized trip by licensed companies, as well as complying with health insurance regulations, and insurance of vehicles for visitors and transit passengers.
The move was lauded by the Minister of Haj and Umrah Mohammed Benten, who is also chairman of the Committee of the Guests’ Service Program. He has thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for issuing the royal decree in this regard.
The minister is quoted to have said: “The decision boosts efforts to achieve one of the most important goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to receive 30 million pilgrims by 2030, through a system of great services provided by the Kingdom to the Guests of God.”