Saudi Arabia extends support for pandemic-hit haj, umrah sector
Saudi authorities are extending support for the domestic haj and umrah sector as the pandemic continues to substantially limit pilgrimage numbers and activities.
The support is to help mitigate the financial and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals, private sector establishments and investors, reported state news agency SPA on Monday (March 8).
The support comes in a range of fee exemptions, including for accommodation facilities in Makkah and Madinah and their expatriate employees.
Saudi Arabia closed its borders for most of last year and held a dramatically scaled-down haj with only 1,000 pilgrims from various nationalities who were already living in the Kingdom. 2.5 million pilgrims were scheduled to perform the annual pilgrimage last year.
Umrah was suspended from the end of February last year and re-opened to substantially limited numbers of foreign pilgrims under controlled conditions from November.
State support for haj and umrah sector announced March 8:
- Accommodation facilities in Makkah and Madinah exempted for one year from annual licence fees for municipal commercial activities
- Haj and Umrah sector establishments exempted for six months from the fee for working expatriates
- Renewal of Ministry of Tourism licenses for a year is free of charge for accommodation facilities in Makkah and Madinah
- Collection of residency renewal fees for expatriates working in activities related to the haj and umrah sector postponed for six months
- Validity of licenses (application forms) for buses operating in facilities transporting pilgrims is extended without charge for a year
- Collection of customs duties for new buses for the haj season 1442 AH (2021) postponed for three months
© SalaamGateway.com 2021 All Rights Reserved
