JEDDAH, 4 July 2003 — Assistant Deputy Minister of Haj Dr. Eisa Rawas has said the new Umrah International Electronic Network will create more than 2,000 jobs for Saudis. The number of Umrah pilgrims is expected to grow to 10 million pilgrims in the next five years.
The minister told Al-Madinah newspaper that the network would not only facilitate Umrah bookings and visa procedures but would also eliminate the problem of overstayers — pilgrims who stay in the Kingdom after the pilgrimage and often take up illegal work here. This would contribute to both the safety of pilgrims and the security of the country, he said.
The state-of-the-art electronic network is one of the biggest in the world, covering some 200 local Haj and Umrah operators with more than 3,500 agents in some 160 countries around the world.
Rawas said the new network allowed Muslims to buy a complete Umrah package, pay for it, and get the visa from the nearest Saudi mission within 24 hours.
Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, launched the Umrah International Electronic Network in a private ceremony at the Jeddah Hilton on Tuesday.
The ministry contacted the Saudi Umrah operators and asked them to offer packages and find agents the world over to market them. International and local companies including HP, CISCO and TIBCO were involved in the development of the network, which is being supervised by Ernst & Young consultants.
On the occasion of the launch, Haj Minister Iyad Madani praised the network as a perfect example of “how to bridge the digital divide and adapt state-of-the-art technology to local needs.”
