Umrah overstayers warned

JEDDAH: MD AL-HILALI | ARAB NEWS/AL-EQTISADIAH Sunday 14 July 2013 The Ministry of Haj has announced new measures to reduce congestion at the circumambulation area of the Kaaba during Ramadan by preventing pilgrims from overstaying their Umrah visas, said a top official. The pilgrim management strategy, announced by Deputy Haj Minister Hatem Qadi, gains significance in view of the ongoing construction work in the Grand Mosque. He also said Haj and Umrah companies had been urged to speed up the repatriation of Umrah visitors from Rajab and Shaaban to facilitate the issue of new visas to their Ramadan visitors. “In the past, Umrah and Haj companies used to accumulate Rajab and Shaaban visitors until Ramadan before they sent them back to their countries, causing congestion at the Grand Mosque during Ramadan,” he said. He said many companies used to delay submitting air transportation contracts for Rajab and Shaaban Umrah visitors until Ramadan, doubling the number of pilgrims. The ministry now wants all companies to dispatch their Rajab and Shaaban clients first before new Ramadan visas are issued. “Accumulation of pilgrims in Ramadan will lead to accumulating them in Arafat. This will not be possible because of ongoing expansion projects in the Grand Mosque area and the Jeddah airport,” he said. Ahmed Ba-Fakeeh, deputy chairman of Shaer Co. for Tourism Development, said the ministry had now introduced a clear strategy to prevent companies and their agencies from violating rules. Companies are being advised against using Rajab and Shaaban visas for Ramadan visits. He said the ministry had already informed all companies and agencies around the world that pilgrims should leave the Kingdom at the end of their visit schedules.