Saudi Arabia Temporarily Suspends Entry for Umrah Pilgrimage, Tourism

Kuwaitis coming back from Iran wait at Sheikh Saad Airport in Kuwait City, on February 22, 2020, before being taken to a hospital to be tested for coronavirus. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
Kuwaitis coming back from Iran wait at Sheikh Saad Airport in Kuwait City, on February 22, 2020, before being taken to a hospital to be tested for coronavirus. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Saudi Arabia Temporarily Suspends Entry for Umrah Pilgrimage, Tourism

Kuwaitis coming back from Iran wait at Sheikh Saad Airport in Kuwait City, on February 22, 2020, before being taken to a hospital to be tested for coronavirus. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
Kuwaitis coming back from Iran wait at Sheikh Saad Airport in Kuwait City, on February 22, 2020, before being taken to a hospital to be tested for coronavirus. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)

Saudi Arabia on Thursday suspended visas for visits to Islam's holiest sites for the "umrah" pilgrimage, as part of measures to stop the spread of the noval coronavirus.

"The Kingdom's government has decided to take the following precautions: suspending entry to the Kingdom for the purpose of umrah and visit to the Prophet's mosque temporarily," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Suspending entry into the Kingdom with tourist visas for those coming from countries, in which the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) is a danger,” it said.

Saudi Arabia has had no cases of the coronavirus but it has been spreading in some neighboring countries.

The virus first appeared in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December.

“Saudi Arabia renews its support for all international measures to limit the spread of this virus, and urges its citizens to exercise caution before traveling to countries experiencing coronavirus outbreaks,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in its statement.



Al Rabeeah Inspects Housing Project for Earthquake Victims in Türkiye

Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court and KSrelief Supervisor General Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah during his tour of Turkish regions affected by the earthquakes. (SPA)
Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court and KSrelief Supervisor General Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah during his tour of Turkish regions affected by the earthquakes. (SPA)
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Al Rabeeah Inspects Housing Project for Earthquake Victims in Türkiye

Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court and KSrelief Supervisor General Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah during his tour of Turkish regions affected by the earthquakes. (SPA)
Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court and KSrelief Supervisor General Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah during his tour of Turkish regions affected by the earthquakes. (SPA)

Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court and King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Supervisor General Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah conducted on Wednesday an inspection visit to the housing units delivered to earthquake victims in Türkiye.

The project includes 364 residential units located in the İslahiye area of Gaziantep province.

During the visit, beneficiaries of the project expressed profound gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for providing these residential units through humanitarian arm KSrelief.

They emphasized that these temporary housing units are of high quality, modern design, and meet essential living needs for families and individuals. They also noted that such gestures are not surprising from the government and generous people of the Kingdom.

KSrelief has supplied 3,000 housing units for earthquake victims in Syria and Türkiye, including 1,500 temporary housing units for those affected by the earthquake in the Afrin region of Syria’s Aleppo Governorate in 2023. Each temporary housing unit consists of two rooms and a bathroom equipped with basic furniture.

Other Saudi-provided facilities include a school accommodating 756 individuals, a mosque for 700 worshippers, 20 caravans for administrative and commercial activities, 15 playground areas for children, and a water well.

Solar-energy units and infrastructure works also were provided for all housing units.

About 1,500 temporary housing units were also provided for earthquake victims in the districts of İslahiye and Nurdağı in Gaziantep province, as well as in Adıyaman and Malatya provinces in Türkiye. These units also consist of two rooms and a bathroom with basic furniture, benefiting a total of 12,000 individuals.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to provide 1,000 temporary housing units in three areas in Hatay province, expected to benefit 5,000 individuals.

These efforts come as an extension of relief projects provided by the Kingdom through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, aimed at alleviating the suffering of those affected by the earthquakes.