JEDDAH, 8 February 2006 — The new regulations issued by the Haj Ministry for licensing Umrah service providers aim at reducing the number of pilgrims overstaying their visas and ending the phenomenon of pilgrims squatting in airports and public places.
Dr. Eissa Rawwas, deputy minister for Umrah affairs, said the ministry would license only companies which have adequate financial and administrative capabilities to provide the service.
“We’ll provide Umrah visas to licensed companies in installments in order to make sure their pilgrims leave the Kingdom after performing the rituals,” Dr. Rawwas said. “We’ll temporarily stop the automatic visa issuance system for a foreign Umrah service agent if five percent of its pilgrims overstay in the Kingdom,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the official as saying. Saudi companies will not get access to the system if 10 percent of their pilgrims overstay in the Kingdom.
The ministry issued the new regulations in order to improve services provided to some three million pilgrims who come for Umrah every year.
The new regulations insisted that all service providers should bring at least 100 pilgrims. “A company will not get access to the automatic visa system if it makes use of less than 50 percent of visas issued in its name,” Dr. Rawwas said. Pilgrims who have overstayed their visas in the past two years will not be given Umrah visas, he said.
“The companies should consider the capacity of Saudi foreign missions in issuing visas and should not demand extra visas,” Dr. Rawwas said. He said a company intending to provide package service to pilgrims must obtain permission from the ministry in order to get visas.
