Hajj, Umrah visas free: Saudi envoy

We’ve had reports of the Saudi Arabian Embassy stopping issuance of Umrah visa, is this true? This is not true at all. The Saudi Arabian Embassy is still issuing Umrah visa and we just received 3000 applications. These are the ones we received through agents. Besides, we received more than 1000 applications from the Ministry […]

We’ve had reports of the Saudi Arabian Embassy stopping issuance of Umrah visa, is this true?
This is not true at all. The Saudi Arabian Embassy is still issuing Umrah visa and we just received 3000 applications. These are the ones we received through agents. Besides, we received more than 1000 applications from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting courtesy visas and we are dealing with that as well. We are receiving large numbers of passports requesting for visas, we receive them from morning till noon and before 3pm all of them would be handed to all our brothers and sisters who are going to In sha Allah perform this year’s Umrah.  If you allow me just to add one thing the Umrah door will remain open till the 10th of Ramadan. We are going to receive visa applications and requests for visa till the 10th of Ramadan. This information has been communicated to all the agents and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially.
What about the reports on cut down of Umrah slots just like we had for the Hajj?
Look, actually yes, the cut off is not only on Nigeria but all the Muslim world. We cut it down by 20% this year for Umrah.  This is due to the expansion of the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah but especially in Makkah. The expansion of the Aram is a big project. Usually it could take Tawaf round the Kabbah, this usually takes around more than 40,000 or 76,000 people at the same time but for this expansion we closed some part of the Aram. So this is reducing the number, the capacity of the Aram from 76,000 and now the capacity is only for 22,000. Our Muslim brothers around the world when they want to go to Makkah, they prefer to go in the last ten days.
Imagine Makkah and this Aram in the last ten days it will be occupied by more than 1.5 to 2 million pilgrims at the same time. We are trying this for the safety of the people coming to avoid congestion. This is the reason.  The expansion of the two holy mosques is being carried out based on the directive of the custodian of the two holy mosque, King Abdulaziz, as part of the responsibilities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia towards the pilgrims by creating a comfortable atmosphere for them. The expansion is necessary due to the increasing number of pilgrims and visitors every year.
Like last year over three million people were there including pilgrims from Saudi Arabia. From inside and outside in a small area which couldn’t take more than one million pilgrims and you find three million people at the same time at that spot which is very difficult.
This is the reason for the expansion –to make more rooms for our brothers and sisters.
It aims at doubling the capacity of the Mataf around the Kaba from 76,000 to 122,000 pilgrims. The reduction of the number of pilgrims came as a result of the current expansion of the holy mosque to avoid any inconveniences for the pilgrims. In sha Allah next year the capacity will increase from 76,000. I am not sure about this now but from 76,000 or 44,000 it will jump to 130,000 pilgrims in sha Allah.  
Can you comment on the cut down of Hajj slots and with what percentage?
We have not started issuing Hajj visas till after the Ramadan In sha Allah. After the Ramadan  we will start issuing visas. I understand what you mean, you are talking about the number. Also the  number of Hajj slots is going to be reduced.
For Nigeria and other Muslims countries 20% and for Saudi internal pilgrims 50% cut on the Hajj slots.  This is very clear, this regulation or this new rule is for this year only In sha Allah till the expansion of the Aram and after this we could take any number in future and it can be free for anybody to go.
Is there any plan to allow some set of people to finish performing their Umrah before others can proceed with theirs?  
No, no. All visas are issued through agents directly electronically. The permission of visa goes to the agents, not coming to us. Each agent has the code number allowing them to go to the ministry of foreign affairs website to take their orders. So there is that link between agents and the ministry of foreign affairs by code numbers. Each agent has the code number which allows them to go through this website applying for the visas and getting the visas from there. The embassy has nothing to do with that, we are not involved in that once they bring us the papers for visa application.  
There is this application which we received from the agents, they print out a barcode number for each pilgrim which they stick on the passport when they bring the passport to the embassy, the embassy has a reader machine, so we put it on the barcode, all information will be received on the computer to make sure that this passport is okay and it has been passed at home from the government and straight ahead we issue visa for them.  There is one thing I want to emphasise on and that is, the Saudi Arabian Embassy does not charge a penny or naira for issuing Hajj and Umrah visas.
Umrah and Hajji visas are free, we don’t charge any penny for that. I hear that there have been charges, this is from agents themselves, not Saudi Arabian authorities or its mission in Nigeria. It is clear that Saudi Arabia never charges anything for issuing Umrah visa or Hajji Visa at all. It is free, visa charges belong to agents. Of course they provide services for applications but we have nothing to do with that. Okay.  
Can an individual apply directly for visa?
No, the individual should go through agents or the Hajj Commission. The embassy only issues courtesy visa for top government officials like diplomats, officers from the State House, ministry of foreign affairs and ministers. It is for VIPs who are carrying diplomatic or special passports.
Is there any particular or special visa you charge on apart from the Hajj and Umrah visas that are free?
There is only one charge and that is for business visa. We only charge for business visa. Our charge is very little, not more than 10 dollars for business visa but Hajj and Umrah visas are free.