The Ministry of Haj came down heavily on erring Umrah companies warning that it will ban an Umrah company even if one percent of its pilgrims fail to return to their home countries.

“A company with 500 overstayers, or just one percent of it, will face the same penalty,” the ministry said.

In a statement on Monday, Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar said that the ministry’s electronic system would immediately block visas to a company that fails to meet the criteria.

Hajjar said that 953,000 Umrah pilgrims have so far arrived in the Kingdom, while 516,000 have returned to their countries. He said the Haj Ministry has issued 1.7 million visas this season.

Hajjar said the ministry’s new electronic system has successfully reduced red tape for Umrah pilgrims across the world. He said that 2,000 travel and service operators in various parts of the world are using the system, and 48 inside the Kingdom. The system links the Ministries of Haj, Interior and Foreign Affairs.

According to the minister, the system reduces visa delays and improves services to foreign pilgrims during their stay in the Kingdom. He said 10 field committees are working around the clock in Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah to check services offered to Umrah pilgrims.

The ministry has made special arrangements at all sea, air and land entry points to help Umrah pilgrims, he said.