Minister of Hajj and Umrah: Saudi Arabia welcomes pilgrims to this year's Hajj season which will see pre-pandemic numbers

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah confirmed that the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the careful follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, stipulate that all preparations to be made to increase the number of pilgrims to the pre-pandemic levels.
In a press conference held Thursday in Riyadh, the minister said that the number of pilgrims for this year's Hajj season will return to normal, with competition between Hajj service providers inciting them to provide their best services to pilgrims. He also stressed that the Kingdom has overcome all the challenges it faced during the pandemic and has distinguished itself by organizing exceptional Hajj seasons, despite the pandemic and its global impact.
Dr. Al-Rabiah thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for their kind instructions to increase the pilgrims' numbers to pre-pandemic levels. These instructions were based on a thorough review of health indicators and the recommendations of health authorities, as well as the Kingdom's readiness to organize Hajj with pilgrim numbers returning to their pre-pandemic levels.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in cooperation with all relevant government and private agencies, began preparations for Hajj 2023 several months in advance. The ministry has been working to ensure the health and safety of pilgrims, in accordance with the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince. The ministry has also allowed pilgrims to apply for Hajj throughout the year, without any age restrictions, in order to accommodate as many Muslims as possible.
The minister confirmed that the Kingdom is continuously working to make it easier for pilgrims to perform the Hajj rituals through an integrated electronic system, from electronic booking and selection of desired service packages to obtaining a Hajj visa and easy and safe access to the holy sites.
Dr. Al-Rabiah also mentioned that the ministry launched the "Nusuk Hajj" platform in 7 different languages to allow pilgrims from Europe, America, Australia, and more than 58 other countries to apply directly for Hajj 2023. Pilgrims from these countries can select the desired packages and services from the platform, which offers an integrated experience for performing Hajj. These services include flights, accommodation, transportation, catering, a pilgrim guide, several payment services, technical support, and the Hajj smart card, which serves as a personal ID for each pilgrim. The ministry continues to develop appropriate technologies to effectively contribute to the organization and facilitation of many services.
He underlined Saudi Arabia’s excellent crowd-management capabilities which are based on a streamlined system that integrates infrastructure, crowd density measurement techniques, publicity programs, and security plans. This allows all pilgrims to perform their rituals in peace. Dr. Al-Rabiah also announced the Kingdom’s intention to digitize all Hajj procedures in the coming years, in a manner to cover the whole Hajj process, from arrival to departure. The currently utilized Hajj Smart Card, which contains all of the pilgrim's information, has made it easier to provide essential medical and logistical services to pilgrims while they are in the Kingdom.
To provide the best services and facilities to pilgrims, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has increased the number of personnel on duty during the Hajj season. This was done in light of the ministry's commitment to keeping up with the changes in this year's season, particularly with the expected return of pilgrim numbers to their pre-pandemic levels.
Regarding the preparations for the transportation of pilgrims, he emphasized that the ministry conducted a successful series of trial runs before the start of the Hajj season. To date, 18,277 buses have been approved for the transportation of pilgrims.
Dr. Al-Rabiah stated that the ministry had begun preparations to receive Umrah performers immediately after the end of the current Hajj season. He announced the start of this year's Umrah season shortly following Hajj and invited those who wish to perform Umrah to visit the "Nusuk" platform, which is available in 9 different languages. The platform will help to facilitate the electronic issuance of visas in less than 24 hours, as well as the procedures for visiting Makkah and Medina. It will also allow visitors to choose their preferred accommodation, transportation, and other services.
Dr. Al-Rabiah explained that the Kingdom exerts all efforts to facilitate the arrival of Umrah performers to Saudi Arabia by offering seven different visas that allow them to perform Umrah. The latest of these visas is the "Transit" visa, which allows individuals to stay in the country for four days in order to perform Umrah. He also mentioned that the Kingdom provides facilities and accommodations for pilgrims. In addition, he stated that the cost of full insurance for Umrah visas has been reduced from SR235 to SR88, with a discount amounting to 63%.
The minister added that the work group has developed and prepared Islamic historical sites related to the Prophet's life to enrich pilgrims' spiritual and cultural experience, rendering those sites accessible and equipped to the highest standards to receive visitors from all over the world. The work group has also begun preparing more than 20 exhibitions and more than 100 Islamic historical sites.
He highlighted the international visits conducted by the ministry in collaboration with government and private sector partners to streamline the procedures for Umrah performers arriving in Makkah. He stated that these visits have helped to clarify the procedures for Hajj and Umrah for each country, resulting in numerous outcomes and agreements that contribute to improving the pilgrims' experience and increasing their satisfaction.
He stated that one of the decisions announced during the recent visits was to extend the Umrah visa from 30 to 90 days. Additionally, pilgrims will now be able to enter the Kingdom on different visas to perform Umrah. Finally, the "Nusuk" platform has been established to make it easier for pilgrims to enter Makkah and Madina. During the international visits, efforts were also made to raise awareness among pilgrims by providing target countries with a series of exceptional educational materials, such as the comprehensive Umrah Guide, which introduces pilgrims to the main stages they will go through so that they are prepared to go through their journey of faith with ease and confidence.

Source --SPA