Abdul Aziz Gazzawi Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – As the new Umrah season is around the corner, the Ministry of Haj has completed all preparations to receive around five million pilgrims from all over the world. Issa Rowas, Deputy Minister of Haj for Umrah Affairs, said that the process of receiving applications for Umrah visa will start from the beginning of the season on Dec. 4 (Safar 1) and the pilgrims will start arriving by the end of the month. During the coming Umrah season, pilgrims from 65 countries can benefit, for the first time, from an extended Umrah program by which their visas will be converted into tourist visas so as to enable them to spend some more time in the Kingdom and visit historical places and tourist attractions. “Electronic registration of the contracts with foreign agents from various countries has already been made, and accordingly visa application processing will begin from Wednesday. A total of 5.3 million Umrah visas had been issued during the last season, and the number of service providers in the coming season would be similar to that of the previous season,” he said. Rowas announced that the arrangements made during the last season to restrict the number of Haj and Umrah pilgrims due to the ongoing expansion of the mataf (circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba) would continue in the coming season also. The ministry made 20 percent and 50 percent cuts in the number of foreign and domestic Haj pilgrims respectively while the period of Umrah visas was reduced from one month to 14 days. According to the official, the major highlight of the new season will be the upgrading of the digitized system with high precision in order to ensure safety, comfort and departure of Umrah pilgrims. “Electronic deals will be formalized with the service companies with regard to the package of their services in addition to electronic registration, and the submission of data about the arrival and return of pilgrims,” he said. Meanwhile, the Haj terminal at King Abdul Aziz International Airport has readied 14 arrival halls for Umrah visitors.
