JEDDAH/RIYADH, 31 October 2006 — Turkish Umrah and Haj pilgrims have increased in numbers this year. While more than 120,000 pilgrims have already visited the Kingdom for Umrah in the first 10 months of 2006, over 100,000 pilgrims are expected to come for Haj, Turkish Consul General Ahmet Yildiz told Arab News on the sidelines of his country’s National Day celebration at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Jedddah on Sunday night.
Muhammad A. Tayeb, director general of the foreign affairs office for the Makkah region who was the chief guest at the function, cut a commemorative cake along with the consul general at the event held to mark the 83rd anniversary of the proclamation of the country’s republic.
Children of the Turkish school sang the national anthem and other patriotic songs to an audience including diplomats, officials and businessmen.
According to Yildiz, the number of Umrah pilgrims has substantially increased over the past few years.
“As for Haj, we’ve been given a quota of 70,000 pilgrims, but we expect about or over 100,000 to come this time like in the previous years. We tend to exceed our quota, as we’ve a large number of our pilgrims coming from Europe where they work or reside,” said Yildiz, who assumed charge two months ago.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Embassy in Riyadh said Ankara has eased visa rules and will grant long-term entry visas to Saudi nationals on arrival in the country. “Saudi passport holders can obtain visas at any entry point, but they also have the choice of getting visas from the embassy or the consulate in Jeddah well before their departure,” an embassy official said yesterday.
He said the facility was there in place for sometime, but the procedure has been further simplified. The entry visa issued at border points on payment of $20 will be multiple-entry with a 90-day validity, he added.
Saudis holding diplomatic or special passports are required to apply before departure. The visa will normally be issued the same day.
More than 37,000 Saudis visited Turkey last year. The simplified visa procedure is expected to boost business and tourism traffic between the countries.
Turkey’s relations with Saudi Arabia have also strengthened, especially after the recent visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. “King Abdullah’s visit to Turkey and his assurance of full support will not only boost mutual interests but also open up better joint venture and trade prospects,” he said, adding that Turkey is hopeful of an increased inflow of Saudi investments in the months ahead.
”Our bilateral trade has been good, but can be better as the potential is high and has not been fully exploited,” Yildiz said. The annual bilateral trade volume has reached nearly $3 billion, with the Kingdom’s exports to that country accounting for $2 billion.
During the first eight months of 2006, the Kingdom’s exports were $1.51 billion and Turkish exports to the Kingdom $608 million.
The trade balance remains in favor of the Kingdom like in the previous years. “Our bilateral cooperation will be at a better level by next year,” he added.
