His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, today welcomed the arrival of 33,690 pilgrims from the sisterly Republic of Iraq, among the two million pilgrims that the Kingdom is preparing to receive during the Hajj season for the current year 1444 AH - 2023 AD.
This came during a joint press conference held by Al-Rabiah with the head of the Supreme Authority for Hajj and Umrah in the Republic of Iraq, Sami Al-Masoudi, during his official visit to the Republic of Iraq, as part of an official delegation from several parties, during which he stressed the facilities provided by the Kingdom to pilgrims and Umrah performers, the latest of which was reducing the value of insurance for pilgrims by a percentage 73% and for Umrah pilgrims 63%, and opening competition between companies providing Hajj services, to contribute to reducing the cost for pilgrims and raising the quality of services provided to them.
Al-Rabiah also referred to the development process witnessed by the “Jdeidah Arar” port, which during the past months received more than 300,000 Umrah pilgrims from the Republic of Iraq, pointing out that the visit witnessed a discussion of a number of options and solutions that contribute to facilitating the arrival of pilgrims and Umrah pilgrims from the Republic of Iraq to Mecca and Medina, such as a free transit visa via Saudi carriers, which allows entry to the Kingdom for 4 days and performing Umrah, is among a number of facilities aimed at raising the quality of services provided, and enriching the religious and cultural experience, in order to achieve the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 programs.
He reviewed the facilities provided by the Kingdom to all Umrah pilgrims in general and to Iraqis in particular, and included making Umrah available to those holding all types of visas without age or numerical conditions or procedural restrictions related to the presence of a mahram for women, while facilitating the movement of Umrah pilgrims between cities and regions of the Kingdom by extending the Umrah visa period. From 30 days to 90 days, in addition to preparing the religious sites and historical monuments that documented the biography of the Prophet? And its honorable companions to enrich the journey of pilgrims and Umrah performers.
During his official visit to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah met with the President of the Republic of Iraq, Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, to discuss and review bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries, and opportunities to develop joint cooperation between the two countries in all fields and sectors that serve the common interests between the two countries in general.< br />
Al-Rabiah also met with the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Muhammad Rikan Al-Halbousi, and the Minister of Hajj and Umrah stressed during the meeting the keenness of all parties of the Hajj and Umrah system, which includes more than 70 government and private entities, to provide the best services to Umrah pilgrims with the highest quality standards, under the umbrella of the Guests of God Service Program. - One of the programs of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, in light of the unlimited support and continuous concern from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz - may God protect them - for the comfort and safety of the guests of God.
Al-Rabiah held a meeting with His Excellency the Iraqi Deputy Minister of Transport, Talib Abdullah Bish, the Head of the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority, Imad Abdul-Razzaq Al-Asadi, and the Director General of the General Authority of Customs, Shaker Mahmoud Al-Zubaidi, and stressed during the meetings the need for the number of flights between the two countries to return to what they were before the pandemic, after allowing performance. Umrah and movement between the cities of the Kingdom for those who have all types of visas, pointing out that the number of Umrah pilgrims from the Republic of Iraq during the past months exceeded 279 thousand pilgrims, since the beginning of the Umrah season for the current year 1444 AH.
The meetings were attended by the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Iraq, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari; Al-Rabiah also concluded his visit to the Republic of Iraq by emphasizing the keenness of the Ministry and all parties of the Hajj and Umrah system to provide the best services to the Guests of God with the highest standards of quality, under the umbrella of the Guests of God Program - one of the programs of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and in light of the unlimited support and continuous care of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the King. Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Highness the Crown Prince - may God protect them - for the comfort and safety of the guests of God.