It was recently revealed under the new Umrah rule that UAE pilgrims who are planning to visit Saudi Arabia for Umrah must now pre-book their transport and accommodation. Yes, as mentioned in a report by the Khaleej Times, travel companies and Umrah operators in the UAE are urging people to have these things booked when applying for visas. This comes at a time when Saudi Authorities are tightening measures to regulate the movement of pilgrims.
New Umrah Rule For UAE Pilgrims
As revealed in the report, strict checks are happening at Jeddah and Madinah airports. And so the officials are ensuring that pilgrims who arrive with an Umrah Visa have confirmed hotel bookings along with licensed transport. This new role now requires pilgrims to arrange their transport and accommodation when they are applying for the visa.
What Does It Mean For Pilgrims?
So, basically, if you are someone who plans to perform Umrah now, you will want to apply for a visa and make sure that your transportation is sorted to the holy city sites; these should be pre-booked. Additionally, if you’re travelling to Mecca via Jeddah, the security will be verifying your bookings. As such, the authorities have linked these requirements to the ongoing campaign by the kingdom to curb illegal taxi services. After all, only prepaid taxis that are booked through the official portal or tickets on Haramain Express high-speed rail are being accepted as a valid transportation.
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With the aim of streamlining pilgrim travel, the new rules ensure that the operators comply with the law. In fact, they must also abstain from attempting Umrah without a tourist visa, as they risk being denied access to religious sites. For those wondering, the Umrah Visa starts at AED750, and it varies by nationality.
So, make sure to keep these important developments in mind while applying for the Umrah Visa for your pilgrimage.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/Sony Herdiana
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