Saudi Arabia Opens Hajj Registration for Applicants within the Kingdom

Pilgrims keeping social distance and wearing face masks, perform farewell Tawaf around the holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, after completing their extended Hajj, "Hajj Al Kabeer", during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, July 22, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
Pilgrims keeping social distance and wearing face masks, perform farewell Tawaf around the holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, after completing their extended Hajj, "Hajj Al Kabeer", during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, July 22, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
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Saudi Arabia Opens Hajj Registration for Applicants within the Kingdom

Pilgrims keeping social distance and wearing face masks, perform farewell Tawaf around the holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, after completing their extended Hajj, "Hajj Al Kabeer", during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, July 22, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
Pilgrims keeping social distance and wearing face masks, perform farewell Tawaf around the holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, after completing their extended Hajj, "Hajj Al Kabeer", during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, July 22, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Thursday the opening of early online registration for the Hajj 2023 season for pilgrims within the Kingdom through the Nusuk application.

This is part of the ministry’s efforts to facilitate the application procedures, upgrade the services’ quality, and enrich the religious and cultural experience of the pilgrims.

The ministry said in a press release on Thursday that there will be four categories of packages available for pilgrims. The economic package starts at 3,984 Saudi riyals ($1,060) and the most expensive package starts at 11,453 Saudi riyals ($3,042).

Pilgrims can choose to make one total payment or opt for three installments.

The ministry said that women will be able to perform Hajj without a mahram, or close male relative, to accompany them.

The minimum age for the online Hajj application is 12 years.

Priority will be given to pilgrims who have not performed Hajj before.

Pilgrims are also required to complete Covid-19 and influenza vaccines, in addition to having a valid Meningococcal ACWY vaccine certificate at least 10 days before arriving at the holy sites.

The ministry has urged pilgrims to only go through companies and institutions licensed by the Ministry for any Hajj-related services.

Registration for Hajj must be done by pilgrims themselves.



Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
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Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held telephone talks on Tuesday on regional and international developments.

The State Department said they discussed the developments in Yemen and the pressing need to advance peace efforts in Sudan.

Rubio welcomed the outcomes of the visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the United States in November.

The visit, he said, “underscored the strength of the Saudi-US partnership.”


Saudi Arabia, Iran, China Keen to Expand Economic, Political Cooperation

Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in Tehran on Tuesday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in Tehran on Tuesday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
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Saudi Arabia, Iran, China Keen to Expand Economic, Political Cooperation

Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in Tehran on Tuesday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in Tehran on Tuesday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

Saudi Arabia, Iran and China said on Tuesday they look forward to expanding economic and political cooperation, as well as in other fields. They also underlined the importance of dialogue and regional cooperation to bolster security, stability, peace and economic prosperity.

The third meeting of the tripartite Saudi-Chinese-Iranian committee met in Tehran on Tuesday. It was chaired by Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, with the participation of Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu.

Saudi Arabia, Iran and China called for an end to Israeli attacks on Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. They condemned Israel’s attacks against Iran and the violation of its sovereignty.

Tehran expressed its appreciation for Riyadh and Beijing’s clear stances against the assaults.

Saudi Arabia and Iran stressed their commitment to implementing all articles of the 2023 Beijing agreement, saying they seek to bolster good neighborliness between them in line with the United Nations Charter, Organization of Islamic Cooperation Charter and international law.

They are committed to respecting each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and security, they added.

Saudi Arabia and Iran welcomed China’s constant positive role and the importance of its support in implementing the Beijing agreement. China, for its part, expressed its readiness to maintain its support and encourage steps taken by Saudi Arabia and Iran to develop their relations in various fields.

On regional affairs, the three countries reiterated their support for a comprehensive political solution in Yemen in line with international principles and under UN sponsorship.

Elkhereiji met separately with Takht-Ravanchi and Deyu on the sidelines of the meeting in Tehran. They discussed bilateral ties between their countries and means to develop them in various sectors.


Saudi Crown Prince Receives Phone Call from Indonesian President

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Phone Call from Indonesian President

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, received a phone call Tuesday from President Prabowo Subianto of the Republic of Indonesia.

According to SPA, the two leaders reviewed relations and discussed ways to support areas of cooperation between the two countries.