'Host Umrah Visa' plan cancelled

 The spokesman of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Engineer Hisham bin Saeed, has said that Saudi Arabia has canceled the host Umrah visa plan. This program will not be implemented.

According to Akaz newspaper, the Ministry of Hajj had announced three years ago that the host Umrah visa program would be launched, under which any Saudi citizen or resident foreigner who wants to host three to five people to perform Umrah under their host will be allowed to perform Umrah for them. Visa issuance will be facilitated. The ministry has now withdrawn from its programme.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah named the said program 'Umra Al-Muzaif' meaning 'Umra Visa Host'. Saudi nationals were authorized to issue Umrah visas on the basis of national identity card and resident foreigner's residence.

The condition for the resident foreigner was that he could perform Umrah only for the first degree of Izzah in his host, while the Saudi citizen was not restricted, he was authorized to perform Umrah in his host. The facility of issuing Umrah visa three times a year was fixed.

The responsibility of those coming through the proposed host Umrah visa was to be the responsibility of the person inviting them to the Kingdom.