The number of Umrah visas for Sudan have been reduced to 33,000 from its previous allocation of 40,000.
Saudi Ambassador to Sudan Faisal Muala announced this change during the opening of the new cultural attaché building in Khartoum, which also includes the largest public library in Sudan, local media reported.
He said the quota was cut this year due to the secession of South Sudan.
The Saudi Embassy starts issuing Umrah visas every year at the beginning of the month of Safar until the middle of Ramadan. There are also visas available for those wishing to perform Haj, Muala said.
Maniee Al-Mutairi, cultural attaché at the Saudi Embassy, said the public library has more than 5,000 books containing information about different sciences useful for Saudi and Sudanese students. He said the Kingdom has awarded 80 scholarships to students from Sudan for higher studies at Saudi universities.
Al-Mutairi said the two countries are involved in a range of cultural activities.
Umrah visas for Sudan cut to 33,000
