Steps to facilitate Umrah travel OK’d

JEDDAH, 12 June  — The Haj Ministry has endorsed proposals made by the Saudi Haj and Umrah Committee after talks with officials of the Egyptian Tourism Chamber to facilitate Umrah traffic from Egypt, Syria and Turkey. The proposals include change in contract terms and bank guarantees. Adel Belkhair, director of the Umrah department at the ministry, told Arab News that the changes would not affect articles of the new Umrah system. Umrah flights from Egypt are expected to start within three days. About 200,000 Egyptians are expected to come for Umrah this year.