Saudi Arabia will be implementing a series of new measures to facilitate the arrival of Moroccan pilgrims and visitors to access the holy sites in the Kingdom, announced Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq al-Rabiah.
On Wednesday, Rabiah began an official visit to Morocco, chairing a high-level delegation representing the government and private sector, focusing on enhancing the pilgrim experience.
During a press conference with Moroccan Minister of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ahmed al-Tawfiq, Rabiah explained that Saudi Arabia has extended the Umrah season to ten months each year.
Saudi Arabia inaugurated the Saudi Visa Services Center (Tasheer) in Morocco to expedite visa issuance within 24 hours. Tasheer is affiliated with the Saudi Company for Visa and Travel Solutions (SVTS) in Rabat.
The center aims to facilitate the procedures for obtaining entry visas to Saudi Arabia by receiving applications for entry visas, registering vital features, and processing the application until the ticket is issued.
Its capacity reaches 250 applicants per day, and SVTS intends to open additional centers in other cities to facilitate serving more clients.
Pilgrims who obtain Umrah visas can also reside and move freely between cities in Saudi Arabia for up to three months instead of the previous limit of thirty days.
The Saudi Minister announced that an agreement has been reached between the Moroccan Ministry and Saudi Arabia's flagship carrier, Saudia, regarding the air transportation of Umrah performers and visitors from Morocco to the Kingdom.
The agreement aims to improve air transportation while ensuring stable prices. Additionally, it includes qualitative initiatives that will enhance the experience and service quality provided to Umrah performers and visitors.
Saudia Airlines will increase its flights while maintaining stable prices and enhancing service levels through qualitative initiatives to serve the pilgrims, asserted the Minister.
Furthermore, Rabiah announced plans to increase the flight capacity of Saudi Arabian Airlines by 30 percent during the Umrah season.
Rabiah also explained that the new plans aim to accommodate more visitors and pilgrims, gradually increasing the number of monthly flights to 68, reducing ticket prices by 10 percent, and increasing the weight allowance for each pilgrim to 69 kilograms.
On Thursday, the Saudi Minister will launch the Nusuk platform exhibition in Casablanca, showcasing exceptional facilities for pilgrims. He noted that the platform will allow individuals to select accommodation and transportation services, access reliable official information, and provide a guide to historical and Islamic sites.
Rabiah described his first visit to Morocco as a reflection of the historical relations between the two countries, which are witnessing growth under the leadership of both nations.
According to the Moroccan Minister, about 320,000 Moroccans apply for Hajj pilgrimage each year, but only a limited number can be accommodated due to their allocated quota.
He expressed gratitude for the facilitations provided by Saudi Arabia, asserting the impact of the new measures on upcoming seasons.
Earlier, the Saudi Minister met the Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita.
Rabiah expressed Saudi Arabia's pride in the established partnership and cooperation relations with Morocco and their shared desire to develop and strengthen these relations for the good and interest of the two countries.
Bourita praised the close relations between the two countries and their common will to strengthen them and raise them to higher levels, pointing to the cooperation and coordination between the concerned authorities regarding facilitating the Hajj and Umrah rituals for Moroccan citizens.
He praised the "Makkah Route Initiative" service, which included Morocco since last year.
Rabiah is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with several officials and relevant authorities in both countries to discuss how to facilitate the arrival procedures for Moroccan pilgrims and visitors.
The visit aims to introduce Morocco to the initiatives, facilitations, and new measures implemented by Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030, aiming to ease the access of a more significant number of Muslims to the holy cities.
