Breaking: Saudi Arabia Reduces Visa Fees!
Saudi’s Council of Ministers has just approved reducing visa fees for Haj and Umrah pilgrims as well as regular visitors and transit travelers. The visa rate has been reduced from SR 2,000 to only SR 300. The cabinet also took the decision to cancel the fees for repeating Umrah pilgrimage.
What’s great about this is that based on this decision only SR 300 will be charged for single entry for a period of three months on the visit visa for the purpose of Umra, tourism, business, or visiting friends and relatives.
The decision came after outcry from pilgrims of Umrah who had to pay a visa fee of SR 2,000 in case of undergoing a second Umrah or Haj during a period of three years.
There are several reforms when it comes to the holy pilgrimage of Haj and Umrah. Now, travelers have to select and travel with a licensed company as well as comply with health insurance regulation.
The royal decree comes in the light of the Kingdom’s effort to facilitate the holy rituals on all Muslims around the world, as well as turn Saudi into one of the most prominent travel destinations in the MENA region.
“This also shows Kingdom’s readiness to receive the increasing number of Haj and Umrah pilgrims through huge infrastructure projects and improving the system of services in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites,” said Minister of Haj and Umrah Mohammed Benten, who is byt the way also chairman of the Committee of the Guests’ Service Program, according to The News.
Despite the reason for the visit, whether it be pilgrimage or tourism, travelers can now pay a low fee of only SR 300 for an entry visa for a period of three months. Compared to the old visa fee of SR 2,000, Saudi has done a good job to encourage more tourists and pilgrims to come see the beauty of the Kingdom.
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