Saudi Arabia announces refund of Umrah fees, launches e-system

Saudi Arabia has announced its plans to refund the visa fees, as well as other fees of those whose Umrah trip was cancelled as a result of the coronavirus epidemic.

While disclosing this in a statement on Sunday 1st March, 2020, Saudi Officials promised to launch an e-system to facilitate the process.

In the official statement, the country’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that the move was necessary after a recent decision by the Saudi Government to temporarily suspend entry into the kingdom to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

MCR gathered that the e-system will authorize pilgrimage agents in the different countries to submit an electronic request to claim the fees paid by their travelers.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has however clarified that “passengers holding employment visa, work visit visa, business visit visa are exempted from the travel restrictions imposed by the kingdom.”

Saudi health authorities, with whom the statement was released said, “Saudi Arabia has so far been not affected by COVID—19 and is exerting all efforts to prevent the entry of the epidemic into the country with regular follow-ups and implementation of precautionary measures.”