Jeddah airport to play critical role in Saudi Arabia’s tourism offensive
A massive, multibillion-dollar expansion project at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah is critical to opening up the Kingdom to millions more visitors over the next 10 to 20 years, a senior official of Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), the national flag carrier, told Arab News on the sidelines of the World Travel Market in London.
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17,000 Turks performed umrah with fake cards in 2017
Some 17,000 Turks performed umrah with fake cards in 2017, according to statistics from Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet).
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Iran suspends participation in Umrah – Middle East Monitor
Head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation, Hamid Mohammadi said yesterday that citizens of his country will not participate in the performance of Umrah this year, citing political reasons and the lack of the necessary arrangements.
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Saudi decision to hit tour operators, airlines
The tax imposed by Saudi Arabia on those who want to perform Hajj or Umrah repeatedly will hit many as around two hundred thousand Pakistanis perform Hajj and some one million perform Umrah annually.
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Singapore, Dubai and Macau to oust London as third most popular city destination
The Hajj is a major draw for arrivals to the country, but the Kingdom is looking to expand its appeal. The Post-Umrah Programme, noted the report, is an initiative that allows pilgrims to convert their Umrah visas into tourist visas, allowing them to extend their stays.
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The number of Muslims undertaking the Hajj has doubled in 20 years. How is Mecca coping?
As gradual globalisation and cheaper air travel makes the world smaller, more and more of the devout are making the pilgrimage, known as the Hajj, every year. In 1997, around 1.2m visited the city during this period. This year, the largest Hajj to do date, saw 2.35m pilgrims – 20,000 of them British – make their way to the city.
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Saudi Arabia wants to be top tourism destination for Muslim travelers
Saudi Arabia wants to be the top global destination for Muslim tourists by the end of the decade according to a top official. It comes amid a massive push to develop the Kingdom’s Red Sea coastline and maximize tourism spending among the millions of Muslims who already visit the Kingdom each year as part of Hajj and Umrah.
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Saudi Embassy: Hajj, Umrah visa available whatever the airline
The previous policy on issuance of Hajj and Umrah visa has been revoked so that Maldivian pilgrims will be issued Hajj and Umrah visa no matter what the airline, says Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Maldives.
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OIC calls for urgent action to save remaining Islamic cultural heritage
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) recently called on member countries for urgent action and appropriate ways of protecting the remaining Islamic cultural heritage against loss and neglect. OIC Secretary-General Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen made the call during an international conference on “Islamic Action for the Protection of Cultural Heritage” held in Istanbul, Turkey, November 1-2.
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Pakistan- Saudi Arabia delays biometric verification for Umrah pilgrims
The Saudi government has delayed the implementation of condition of biometric verification for intending Umrah pilgrims from Pakistan till December.
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Ministry receives complaints against 90 hajj agencies
Various allegations of irregularities, including bad performance, have been found against some 100 hajj agencies in a recent probe conducted by the Religious Affairs Ministry, with recommendations to prevent them from taking part in the next year's hajj management.
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Minority Urges Gov't To Put Hajj Under Zongo Ministry
The Zongo Development Fund Bill, 2017 was read for the second time on Thursday, with the minority leader and minority chief whip strongly urging the government to put the management of Hajj pilgrimage under Minister for Zongo and Inner City Development.
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