Umrah operators in the UAE are advising pilgrims to book their means of transport and their accommodation when seeking a visa, since Saudi authorities are increasing restrictions in order to control pilgrim movement.
Aggregators said that the reminder is due to increased scrutiny at Jeddah and Madinah airports, where authorities have been verifying that pilgrims are coming with an Umrah visa, confirmed hotel reservations, and licensed transport.
Shihab Parwad of Rehan Al Jazeera Tourism reported that new regulations require pilgrims to make transport and accommodation arrangements when they apply to obtain a visa. Shihab Parwad explained that anyone planning to perform Umrah now must have their visa, transportation to the holy sites, and accommodation pre-booked in advance. He added that travelers heading to Makkah via Jeddah will undergo booking verification by security authorities. While some pilgrims may still be allowed to travel without confirmed bookings, the responsibility falls on the Umrah aggregator, who may face penalties or even system blockage.
These requirements have been associated by the authorities with the current campaign against illegal taxi services run within the airports and pilgrimage pathways in Saudi Arabia. Prepaid cabs booked through an official portal or tickets in the Haramain Express high-speed rail are being accepted as valid transport.
Facilitating pilgrim travel
According to the travel companies, the new rules seek to streamline pilgrimage travel and to make sure that the operators comply with the law. Although the individual pilgrims will not be fined, aggregators face the risk of fines and operational limits in case their clients show up without prior confirmation booking, reported KT. At present, the price of an Umrah visa is at least Dh750, depending on the nationality. As a recommendation to their UAE-residing citizens when filing the visa application, operators highly advise that all the bookings be secured, such as flights, hotels, and transport, to prevent delays and complications.
