Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia revealed a number of measures taken by his country to facilitate Moroccans’ performance of Hajj and Umrah rituals.
Developments concern facilitation in obtaining an Umrah visa, extending the period of residence, and the right to move between Saudi cities.
The Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah said in a press conference today, Wednesday, following discussions between him and Ahmed Taoufiq, Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia “welcomes, leadership and people, the guests of God coming from the Kingdom of Morocco, as it has facilitated the arrival of pilgrims and visitors.”
Al-Rabiah added that Saudi authorities have intended to extend the Umrah season to ten months during the year, and “opened a ‘Visa’ center in Morocco, which aims to facilitate the procedures for issuing visas and reduce the period of obtaining them to 48 hours.”
The Minister of Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced that those holding Umrah visas can now “reside and move between cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a period of up to three months instead of thirty days,” confirming that the capacity of flying through Saudi Airlines has increased by 30%.”
“This will contribute to enabling the arrival of more visitors and pilgrims.”
The Saudi official went on to explain the new privileges granted by Saudi Airlines to Moroccan Umrah pilgrims, as it will gradually increase flights to “68 monthly flights, and reduce ticket prices by 10%, in addition to allowing the weights of each Umrah pilgrim to increase to 69 kilograms instead of 46 kilograms, a percentage increase, up to 50%.”