The Kingdom spends SR70 billion on the expansion of the Grand Mosque and the holy places. Large areas around Makkah and Madinah have been cleared to accommodate the greatest numbers of pilgrims. Reimbursements were more than SR 70 billion. Last Hijri year witnessed the registration of 5.5 million pilgrims. The ministry coordinated with appropriate agencies to issue security authorizations for Umrah services providers. A joint committee will be formed to deal with details of the Umrah tourism visa. In an interview with Nadim Al–Hamid of Arab News, the minister of Haj, Bandar Al Hajjar, denied reports in some European media that the Kingdom would impose fees on Umrah pilgrims and said that the ministry has no intention of imposing such fees in the future. The Umrah season started on Friday, the 1st of Safar.
Following is the complete interview:
Does the Saudi government really impose extra fees on Umrah pilgrims?
This is absolutely not true. No fees are imposed on any pilgrims, nor is it the intention of the Kingdom to impose such fees in the future. The fact is the Kingdom is spending billions of Riyals on the expansion of the Grand Mosque and the Holy Places, in addition to the many projects designed to serve visitors of Allah, such as the expansion of Tawafa, and the clearing of large areas around Makkah and Madinah. Estimates of expenditures for this latter project reached more than SR 70 billion. All this expense and effort is solely for serving visitors and pilgrims.
But, on the other hand, a pilgrims must pay if he wants to avail himself of facilities and services such as accommodation, food and transportation. This is the same as in any country around the world.
I am explaining this because there are people in some European countries who extort pilgrims, and the media, there, has made a number of false accusations against the Kingdom.
What kind of preparations has the ministry made for the new Umrah season?
The ministry has completed its preparations for this season. It is ready to receive Umrah pilgrims from various Arab and Islamic countries starting from Safar.
It has also coordinated with other official bodies that issue security permits for Umrah service providers. It has made sure that all locations in Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah are staffed and ready.
The first phase of the operational plan was adopted, and the documenting of all contracts of outside proxies in Malaysia, the UK, Holland, Turkey, Lebanon. Morocco, Qatar, Kuwait was finished. Other countries will follow.
On the other hand, electronic Umrah applications are now being taken. Any visa application for Umrah can be submitted electronically starting from the first day of Safar.
The ministry has also completed its preparations in terms of electronic control systems, and has established field committees that roam all locations housing and serving Umrah pilgrims so as to attend to their needs, listen to their complaints, and provide all work equipment such as cars, motorcycles and wireless equipment.
Last year, the number of pilgrims reached more than 5.5 million. The appropriate department in the Ministry of Haj followed up the services presented to them, and made sure that their service provider did his job.
Umrah season witnesses the influx of great numbers of people because of the efforts of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his Crown Prince on all levels, and the integrated mechanisms of work by all government bodies, and those of the private sector, within the framework of the high commission of Haj affairs, the central committee of Haj, Madinah Haj committee. Together they work to achieve the highest level of performance, so that pilgrims can pray and worship peacefully and securely. The ministry harnesses all its capabilities to perform the necessary tasks for the sake of serving the guests of Allah.
What are the main activities that the ministry performs in order to follow up and monitor the performance of Umrah service providers?
There is no doubt that guests of Allah are a great responsibility and a great honor. Businesses that have licenses to provide services for pilgrims realize this responsibility, and are keen to provide the best level of service. At the same time, supervisory committees in the ministry at Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah do their part in following up on these businesses to make sure of their readiness, the availability of qualified personnel and signed contracts. Members of these committees and teams are provided with all necessary equipment to spot any neglect and punish whoever is responsible. Electronic teams follow up the operational plans of these firms to monitor compliance and take the necessary measures on the spot.
Are there any fees for the visa? How much are they?
The ministry does not collect any fees at all. The pilgrims pay for the package of services that the provider offers subject to the terms of the contract which include accommodation, transportation and food according to passage (3) of the fourth article of the law governing the services of Umrah pilgrims, by Cabinet decision (93) dated 10/6/1420 AH.
The Kingdom spends billions on Haj projects to facilitate performance of the Holy rituals for all Muslims. It is the primary goal of the Kingdom to care for pilgrims in its 9th development plan, for example, expansion projects and the train.
Prince Sultan bin Salman, SCTA president, declared recently that an integrated organization for the Umrah visa will be issued soon. What’s the latest update on that?
A joint committee with members from both the Ministry of Haj and SCTA has been formed to study this issue. An announcement will be made as soon as it is finalized.
There are certain cases of bad practices by persons who sell Umrah visas. What are the procedures, and punishment that the ministry has taken against these illegal practices?
If the ministry was informed, with documented proof and evidence, the most severe punishment will fall on the offenders.
