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The ministry underscored that the pilgrims would obtains services through companies and establishments that are licensed to organize Umrah trips, in addition to ascertaining the details of services such as housing, transportation, the date of travel and the like

MAKKAH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah urged Umrah pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia to ensure that there shall be a documented contract for the services that they will receive from the service providing companies and establishments that organize Umrah trips.

The ministry underscored that the pilgrims would obtains services through companies and establishments that are licensed to organize Umrah trips, in addition to ascertaining the details of services such as housing, transportation, the date of travel and the like.

It is noteworthy that the ministry has mobilized its electronic procedures and all its technical programs to serve the pilgrims and facilitate them to perform the rituals in ease and comfort since the launch of the new Umrah season and that is in coordination with the relevant authorities. The new Umrah season began on Muharram 1, 1444, corresponding to July 30, 2022.

Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced on Saturday that children of all ages are allowed to enter the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The ministry’s announcement came on its official account on the Twitter platform, where it said that parents could now take their children with them to the Grand Mosque.

It also clarified the methods of issuing permits for children, stating that for children over 5 years old, it must be ensured that the appropriate permit is reserved for them through the Eatmarna application.

While parents who want to bring their child under the age of 5, they can then enter the Grand Mosque without the need to obtain an entry permit.

It is noteworthy that the ministry allowed holders of all types of visas and those coming from all countries of the world for the purpose of tourism and visits to perform Umrah during their stay in Saudi Arabia.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced on Saturday that children of all ages are allowed to enter the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

RIYADH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Thursday that those who obtained tourist visas and commercial visas will now be allowed to perform the Umrah pilgrimage during their stay in Saudi Arabia.

This facility is available for citizens of 49 countries around the world. They can secure their visas online through “Visit Saudi Arabia’ portal or immediately on arrival at Saudi airports, the ministry said while noting that the decision has been taken to facilitate as many people as possible to perform the lesser pilgrimage.

The ministry stated that those who qualify to perform Umrah also include holders of US, UK and Schengen visas. This comes in conjunction with the start of the new Umrah season for the current year 1444 AH, with the aim of opening the way for the largest number of Muslims around the world to perform Umrah freely and easily.

The system allows people to obtain a tourist visa, valid for a period of 12 months, upon arrival at one of the Saudi airports without the need for prior application, and the visa holders will be allowed to visit the cities and regions all over the Kingdom. The visa applicants shall be from those countries that are included among the countries eligible for obtaining the electronic visa. Regarding those who are holders of American, UK and Schengen visas, their visas shall be valid, and bears an entry stamp from the issuing country.

Family visit visa holders from different nationalities can also perform Umrah by booking an appointment through the Eatmarna application via their relatives in the Kingdom during their visit to the Kingdom, by applying through the National Unified Visa Platform.

To perform Umrah, it is required for visitors to obtain comprehensive health insurance, which includes coverage of treatment costs of coronavirus infection; accidents resulting in death or disability; and expense due to flight delays or cancellations, and other matters.

Those who wish to perform Umrah from nations other than those countries, which are currently qualified, should apply for visas at the Kingdom’s embassies in their respective countries.

Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has confirmed that pilgrims from abroad who wish to perform Umrah are not required a negative PCR test result or rapid antigen test result for their entry to Saudi Arabia. The ministry noted that the issuance of insurance to cover the treatment costs in the event of getting infected with COVID-19 virus is still a condition for the entry of foreign pilgrims to the Kingdom to perform the Umrah rituals. The duration of stay for those coming on Umrah visa is 90 days only, the ministry said while noting that the pilgrim can move and travel during his stay in between Makkah and Madinah and all other Saudi cities. It is worth mentioning that the ministry has introduced an electronic design of the Umrah Trip program for foreign pilgrims. The pilgrims can choose this program directly and without an intermediary during the new annual Umrah season. They can apply for the issuance of Umrah visas through the approved e-platforms for Umrah services for individuals, through the following link: https://maqam.gds.haj.gov.sa/Home/OTAs Umrah pilgrims can also check the requirements of Umrah according to the country of arrival by visiting the ministry’s website at the following link: https://haj.gov.sa/en/InternalPages/Umrah Non-vaccinated people will be allowed to pray in the Grand Mosque in Makkah, and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. There is also the possibility for non-vaccinated pilgrims to get issued Umrah permits through Eatmarna app, provided that they were not infected or in contact with a COVID-19 infected person.

Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced the last date for issuing the Umrah permit for the current year 1443 AH (Anno Hegirae in Latin or “in the year of the Hijra”) would be on the June 23 corresponding to 24 Dhu al-Qa’dah.

The ministry also indicated that Umrah trips will be resumed and permits issued again on July 19, corresponding to Dhul-Hijjah 20.

The ministry further said that the issuance of Umrah permits will be suspended in order to facilitate pilgrims coming to perform Haj rituals.

The last date for Umrah season for overseas Muslims was the 30th of the Islamic month of Shawwal corresponding to May 31.

On Sunday, June 19, to mark the beginning of Haj 1444/2022, the authorities in Makkah raised the Kiswah (Ghilaf e Kaaba), the cloth that drapes the Kaaba by three metres, and covered the raised part with a two-metre-wide white cotton cloth (Ihram) on all four sides, an annual custom.

It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Haj and Umrah decided to issue Haj permits to only one million pilgrims this year from inside and outside the Kingdom, in continuation of the precautionary measures against the COVID-19 while easing these measures from the previous year.

Dubai: The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced a reduction in the prices of Hajj packages for domestic pilgrims, Saudi media reported.

Earlier this month, the Kingdom announced three packages for domestic pilgrims and the reduced costs cover all the packages.

According to the ministry’s decision on Thursday, the first package (Hospitality Ordinary Camps) will now cost SR9,098, as against the earlier price of SR10,238.

The new price for package two (Hospitality Upgraded Camps) will now be SR11,970 instead of SR13,043, while the reduced price for the third package (Hospitality Mina Towers) was set at SR13,943 as against SR14,737 earlier.

The ministry said earlier that the prices do not include transportation fees from their resident city to Makkah. The value-added tax (VAT) is not included as well.