MOTAC set to intensify scrutiny over Umrah travel agencies
KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) will examine and review the qualifications of all travel agency companies, especially those that conduct business related to Umrah travel in Saudi Arabia. Its minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing noted that certain travel agencies offering Umrah packages without delivering on their promises, despite MOTAC’s prior […]
Saudi Arabia extends e-visa to citizens of 8 more countries
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday that citizens of eight more countries would be eligible for visitor e-visa, Xinhua quoted the Saudi Press Agency report. The e-visa will be available to visitors from Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, South Africa, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, for leisure, business, and religious (Umrah only) travel, bringing the total number […]
Saudi records arrival of over 300,000 M’sian umrah pilgrims
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 300,000 pilgrims from Malaysia have performed Umrah since the start of the Umrah season on July 30 last year, said Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah. He said, the facilities provided by the government of Saudi Arabia also contributed to the large arrival of pilgrims […]
Lack of flights cause Umrah trip postponement
KUCHING: More than 600 umrah pilgrims had to postpone their trip to the Holy Land this month due to a reduction in the number of flights to Saudi Arabia. According to Sarawak Umrah and Hajj Agency Organisation (SUHA) chairman Ruzaiman Ghazalee, Malaysia is currently experiencing a sudden increase in the number of umrah pilgrims and […]
Travel industry welcomes new Umrah SOPs
KUCHING: Travel agents have rallied behind the government’s new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Umrah trips which will take effect next Monday (Feb 14). In giving its backing Malaysian Association of Travel and Tourism Agents (MATTA) Umrah & Hajj Vice President, Mohd Azri Abd Razak said it was very pleased that returning pilgrims from Mecca […]
Motac sets RM6,900 as floor price for umrah package of 12 days, 10 nights
KUALA LUMPUR: The government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac), has set the floor price for an umrah package of 12 days and 10 nights at RM6,900. The ministry, in a statement today, said the price was set in line with current developments due to the increase in the cost of performing […]
Umrah agencies need to be prepared for new rules, SOPs
KUALA LUMPUR: Umrah management agencies need to be prepared to understand the new rules and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the minor pilgrimage as set by the Saudi Arabian government. Tabung Haji (TH) Haj executive director Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman said the move was important to ensure umrah pilgrims received complete information […]
Govt studying visa-related procedures for umrah
BENTONG: The government is looking into several procedures, including those related to visas, before allowing Malaysians to perform the umrah, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri. “We are collecting as much information as possible regarding the umrah. We need to look at the whole aspect and […]
One-year multiple visa with stay up to 90 days in Saudi for visitors from 49 countries
Saudi Arabia has opened its doors for tourists from 49 countries since Sunday (Aug 1), by simplifying procedures in obtaining multiple-entry electronic visa for a period of one year and allowing stay up to 90 days in the kingdom. According to a report by Saudi Gazette, a global news website covering the news on Saudi […]
Postponement of Haj, a bilateral decision
BY MUAMMAR EUSOUFFI ZAINOL ABIDIN KUALA LUMPUR: The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Malaysia, Datuk Dr Mahmoud Hussien Saeed Qattan, said the decision by the Malaysian government to delay the sending of Haj pilgrims this year was made in the interest of Muslims to curb Covid-19. Qattan also said he has been checking on the views of Malaysian (Muslims) […]
