Saudi Arabia Begins Issuing E-Visas for Umrah

Umrah pilgrims will start arriving in the Kingdom by July 19 (SPA)
Umrah pilgrims will start arriving in the Kingdom by July 19 (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Begins Issuing E-Visas for Umrah

Umrah pilgrims will start arriving in the Kingdom by July 19 (SPA)
Umrah pilgrims will start arriving in the Kingdom by July 19 (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has started issuing e-visas for Umrah, as part of its efforts to enable more Muslims to come to the Kingdom to perform the Umrah pilgrimage and facilitate its procedures for them.

This comes along with raising the quality of Umrah services to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The ministry stated that people who seek electronic visas can submit applications at the Nusuk platform, so they can start arriving in the Kingdom by July 19.

The Nusuk platform facilitates the arrival procedures for Muslims worldwide to visit Makkah and Madinah, provides housing choices, residence and transportation services, in addition to easy access to a package of enrichment information and interactive maps in several languages.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah previously announced, in cooperation with the concerned authorities, that holders of tourist visas from the Gulf Cooperation Council of Arab states and holders of Schengen visa can book Umrah appointments via the Nusk application.

The Hajj and Umrah Ministry also facilitates procedures for holders of different types of visas.

Facilities provided by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to the Umrah performers are a part of new legislation that is recently adopted and include reducing the insurance fees for Umrah performers by 63% while maintaining the sustainability of health services for them, issuing the Umrah visa in less than 24 hours, and extending the Umrah visa from 30 days to 90 days, with no health requirements.

The updated procedures of Umrah also permit women to perform the Umrah without a male guardian (mahram). The new rules also allow Umrah performers to visit the unique sites of the Kingdom to learn about the country's cultural diversity and enrich their religious and cultural experiences.



Penalties Imposed on Hajj Fraudsters

Saudi Arabia has commended several countries for their strict actions against tour companies that issued unauthorized Hajj visas.Photo: Bashir Salih
Saudi Arabia has commended several countries for their strict actions against tour companies that issued unauthorized Hajj visas.Photo: Bashir Salih
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Penalties Imposed on Hajj Fraudsters

Saudi Arabia has commended several countries for their strict actions against tour companies that issued unauthorized Hajj visas.Photo: Bashir Salih
Saudi Arabia has commended several countries for their strict actions against tour companies that issued unauthorized Hajj visas.Photo: Bashir Salih

Several countries, whose citizens died during this year’s Hajj season, have revealed a joint effort with Saudi Arabia to tackle companies issuing unauthorized Hajj visas.

Despite Saudi Arabia’s extensive media campaigns warning against performing Hajj without proper permits and highlighting strict penalties, some pilgrims didn’t abide by the regulations which led to unfortunate outcomes.

Saudi Arabia on Monday commended several countries for their strict actions against tour companies that issued unauthorized Hajj visas. These countries have taken steps to prevent future violations.

Meanwhile, Riyadh is treating both authorized and unauthorized pilgrims for heat exhaustion, with high temperatures causing the deaths of 1,301 pilgrims, most of whom were unauthorized.

Saudi Arabia and Jordan have accused tour companies of deceiving visitors by issuing unauthorized Hajj visas.

Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Col. Talal Al-Shalhoub said these companies encouraged visitors to break the rules by staying in Makkah two months before the Hajj season.

Jordanian government spokesman Muhannad Mubaideen confirmed that investigations found some citizens were deceived by unscrupulous individuals and certain offices, as reported by the Jordan News Agency (Petra).

On Tuesday, the Jordanian Judicial Council revealed the results of an investigation into unauthorized Hajj trips by Jordanians, which resulted in 99 deaths this year.

The council ordered the closure of companies that facilitated these illegal trips and seized their illegal earnings.

Meanwhile, Egyptian authorities have revoked the licenses of 16 tour companies for illegally organizing Hajj trips without providing services to pilgrims.

The officials of these companies have been referred to the public prosecutor, and the companies have been fined to compensate the families of deceased pilgrims, according to the Egyptian Cabinet.

Egyptian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Farouk praised the excellent cooperation between Saudi and Egyptian authorities. He noted the high-level coordination on Hajj matters and other bilateral issues.

On his part, Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed Minister of Religious Affairs Brahim Chaibi following the deaths of 60 Tunisian pilgrims, as reported by the Tunisian Consulate in Jeddah.

Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas praised Saudi Arabia’s successful organization of this year’s Hajj. He thanked the Saudi leadership for ensuring a smooth Hajj experience and highlighted the efficiency of the “Makkah Route” initiative.

Saudi Arabia emphasized that Hajj permits are not just entry passes but crucial tools for locating and providing timely care and services to pilgrims.

The Saudi Interior Ministry explained that the absence of permits made it challenging to reach some unauthorized pilgrims and obstructed the delivery of necessary services and care.