Riyadh: In a landmark decision for Umrah pilgrims, the Saudi government Sunday scrapped the 2000 riyals additional fees levied on second timers with immediate effect.
According to Arab News, the decision to scrap the additional fee on pilgrims travelling to Makkah for Umrah more than once in two years was announced by a royal decree.
In order to control the massive crowd of pilgrims who embark on Hajj and Umrah, the Saudi government had imposed in October 2016 a levy of 2000 riyals for second timers.
The Saudi publication reported on Monday that the Saudi minister for Haj and Umrah, Dr Mohammad Salih Bentin, thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for issuing the decree.
While applauding the royal decree, Saudi minister for Haj and Umrah, Dr Mohammad Salih Bentin, said it would enable the realisation of "one of the most important objectives of the Vision 2030 reform plan" to welcome 30 million Umrah pilgrims by that year and to "provide them with great services so they can perform their rituals in comfort and tranquility".
“The royal decree is a part of the leadership’s keenness to facilitate the arrival of Muslims from all over the world to perform Haj and Umrah,” said Bentin.
"The decision reveals that the Kingdom is ready to receive an increasing number of pilgrims owing to the large infrastructure projects and the recent upgradation of services in the holy cities of Makkah and Madina, as well as other revered sites", he said.
While more than 02 million pilgrims perform Hajj every year, millions of Muslim arrive in Makkah, round the clock and from all corners of the world, to perform Umrah.
According to a report by Saudi Arabia’s General Statistics Authority, more than 6.5 million Umrah visa was issued in 2017 alone.
The Saudi government has already started preparations for the upcoming Umrah season and Hajj 2020.
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