His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, held - today - several official meetings with a number of officials in the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, as part of a delegation visiting the Republic of Algeria.
His Excellency indicated that the visit comes within the framework of the existing strategic meetings between government agencies in the two brotherly countries with the aim of enhancing cooperation between them in various fields in a way that serves the common interests of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.
Al-Rabiah affirmed the keenness of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Highness the Crown Prince - may God protect them - to facilitate all procedures and develop legislation that enables the largest number of Muslims around the world to visit the holy places and perform Umrah, in light of the Kingdom’s historical and authentic commitment. Serving the guests of God.
His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah indicated the Kingdom’s readiness to receive two million pilgrims, including 41,300 pilgrims from the Republic of Algeria, during the Hajj season for the current year 1444 AH. During a joint press conference held by Al-Rabiah with His Excellency the Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Dr. Youssef Belmehdi, Al-Rabiah referred to the facilities provided by the Kingdom to Algerian pilgrims, Among them: making it possible to perform Umrah by coming to the Kingdom with all types of visas and issuing them within less than (24) hours, and abolishing the requirement for the presence of a mahram for women.
During the conference, it also touched on the role of development and infrastructure projects in the Kingdom in creating a qualitative shift in the quality of services provided in the Two Holy Mosques and the Holy Sites, and their role in accommodating the expected increase in the number of pilgrims. It is considered the largest in the world at a cost exceeding 200 billion riyals, and the construction of the Haramain train, which connects Mecca and Medina during a two-hour trip.
Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah held an extensive meeting with His Excellency the Minister of Tourism and Traditional Industry, Yassin Hammadi, His Excellency the Minister of Transport, Kamal Beljoud, and the Director General of the National Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of Algeria, Hamza Ben Hamouda, in the presence of a number of representatives of government and private agencies in the two countries, with the aim of discussing the development of joint relations and the transition. With it to a broader horizon, and to discuss the best ways to facilitate the arrival of pilgrims to Mecca and Medina to perform their rituals with peace of mind and ease. In order to achieve the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 programmes.
The Minister of Hajj and Umrah stressed the keenness of the Ministry and all parties of the Hajj and Umrah system to provide the best health and logistical services to all pilgrims, in a way that ensures saving time and effort, and raises the quality of services. Pointing to the diversity of services provided by the “Nusk Platform” within easy and convenient electronic steps, which contribute to enriching their faith experience while they are in the Kingdom, especially after extending the Umrah visa period from 30 days to 90 days, making Umrah available for all types of visas, and reducing the cost. Comprehensive insurance.
Al-Rabiah called on all those wishing to perform Umrah rituals to visit Islamic and historical sites located in the regions and cities of the Kingdom, especially in Mecca and Medina. To enrich their religious experience, he pointed out that the Kingdom is full of religious and historical sites that are worth visiting, and they can be visited by taking advantage of the services provided by the “Nusk” platform.