Visa fees not hiked for Hajj and Umrah, says Indian Ambassador

Latest news has it that the Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ausaf Sayeed, has confirmed that there would be no hike in visa fees for Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimage. This statement comes in the wake of earlier development in which it was reported that the Saudi Arabia Government is mulling to raise visa fee by six folds.

Referring to this latest development, the Ambassador also clarified that this year in September, a royal decree by the Saudi government annulled ‘the penalty of SAR 2000 for pilgrims performing second or consecutive Umrah in less than a year.’

Dr. Sayeed also mentioned that the visa fee for Hajj and Umrah is only SAR 300, which is around $80. He informed that there is work going on in Saudi Arabia to improve the experience of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. He had met Saudi Minister of Hajj Sayeed on Wednesday and Minister of Umrah Dr. Mohammed Saleh Bin Taher Benten to discuss arrangements for Indian Hajis during Hajj 2020.
Earlier this month, he called upon the Governor of Madina HRH Faisal bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, wherein the governor shared futuristic plans that are on the anvil for increasing room capacity in Madina, and about introducing a rapid transport system to facilitate Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

He further added that the Kingdom has even opened up tourist visas for several nationalities, which will remain valid for a year, and also enable them multiple entries on which Umrah can be performed without going through a travel agent.

The Ambassador also said that they are working with the Kingdom to extend similar facilities to bonafide Indian tourists, particularly those with valid US, UK and Schengen visas.