JEDDAH, 3 May 2005 — The Ministry of Haj has contracted with a company that specializes in information security to prevent the forgery of Umrah visas. The move will also reduce the period of stay of incoming pilgrims at airports and other entry points.
Ahmed ibn Alawi Amry, executive president of Sijill Technologies which manages and operates the ministry’s information center, said the agreement with Al-Elm Company would help authorities obtain accurate information about pilgrims.
Dr. Khaled Al-Ghonaim, executive president of Al-Elm, said his company would issue a special number for each pilgrim in advance which will enable authorities to access all necessary information about each pilgrim.
He expected a bigger turnout of Umrah pilgrims this year compared with previous years. The ministry has already issued 200,000 Umrah visas and only 40 percent of these pilgrims have yet arrived in the Kingdom.
Haj Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy has said that the ministry has taken new measures to prevent overstaying of Umrah pilgrims. Under the new system, Umrah pilgrims from certain countries would only be allowed to come in groups. A second group will be allowed entry only after the return of all pilgrims in the first group.
