Ministry Of Religion: Saudi Arabia Opens The Widest Quota For Umrah 1444 H

Pilgrims perform tawaf around the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday (3/8/2022). ANTARA/Desi Purnamawati

MEKKAH - The Ministry of Religion stated that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia has opened the widest number of quotas for Umrah pilgrims in 1444 H, especially from Indonesia.

"Alhamdulillah, from this meeting we get certainty that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia opens the widest possible number of quotas for Umrah pilgrims in 1444 H, especially from Indonesia," said Director of Umrah and Special Hajj at the Ministry of Religion Nur Arifin in Mecca as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 3rd.

Previously, the Ministry of Religion together with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia held a meeting to discuss policies for the implementation of the Umrah pilgrimage in 1444 H.

Nur Arifin said the meeting discussed a number of preparations regarding the opening of the 1444 H Umrah. The Ministry of Religion needs to know Saudi Arabia's latest policy in organizing Umrah, especially after two years of the pandemic.

Regarding visa issuance, continued Arifin, the process no longer has to go through a visa provider in Indonesia. Umrah Travel Organizers (PPIU) can now directly cooperate with visa providers in Saudi Arabia that have been recognized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

Likewise, the validity period of the Umrah visa, which was originally only a month, has now become three months. Umrah pilgrims can also visit all regions in Saudi Arabia.

"The policy of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia regarding the issuance of Umrah visas for Umrah pilgrims from Indonesia is still business to business," he continued.

Head of Sub-Directorate for Supervision of Umrah and Special Hajj, M Noer Alya Fitra added, people who come to Saudi Arabia using a visa other than Umrah, can also perform Umrah. In fact, a 24-hour transit visa can also perform Umrah by booking in advance on the Tawakkalna or Eatmarna applications.

"The Tawakkalna and Eatmarna applications will still apply to everyone in the implementation of Umrah, including when entering Raudah at the Prophet's Mosque," he said.

During the meeting, continued the man who is familiarly called Nafit, it was also known that the guide or muthawwif of Umrah pilgrims, especially pilgrims from Indonesia, did not have to be Saudis.

Muthawwif is allowed to come from Indonesian citizens living in Saudi Arabia with the relevant muassasah sponsor and accompanied by a Saudi citizen guide.

The Saudi government is also still implementing Umrah pilgrims insurance policies at prices like previous years.

"If there is an overstay of the Umrah pilgrims, then those who are responsible for paying the fine are the congregation concerned through the muassasah/visa provider in Saudi Arabia," said Nafit.

Because it is still a pandemic, the Government of Saudi Arabia will still implement health protocols for Umrah pilgrims. However, the implementation policies vary according to the zones that have been determined by the Saudi Arabian government, namely green, yellow, and red.

"Currently Indonesia is included in the green zone. The government of Saudi Arabia will continue to monitor the development of COVID-19 and if there are new policies, it will be delivered immediately," he said.