pilgrims visa fee increased- Saudi Arabia
– Saudi Arabia is set to increase charges for pilgrims visa
– The new fees come as Saudi Arabia struggles to fill holes in its balance sheet
– The Kingdom’s oil revenue continues to decline Pilgrims heading to Mecca for Islamic pilgrimage will have to cough out more money as Saudi authorities have concluded plans to increase charges for for their visa fees.
The ruling Council of Ministers, chaired by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, announced that anyone applying for a visit to complete the Hajj for a second time will be charged SR2000 (about 166,469 naira) for each visit.
The same fee will apply for people wishing to complete the Umrah in the holy city of Mecca, but one that can be completed at any point in the year, for a second time.
According to the Saudi Gazette, a visa for the first visit for Hajj will remain free. Prices for general visits will increase to SR200 (16, 646 naira) for a two-month visa and SR300 (27,767 naira) for three.
The fees will come into force tomorrow, October 2.
Saudi Arabia imposes strict quotas on the number of Muslims who are granted special Hajj visas every year in order to prevent too many people visiting Mecca, and the other holy city Medina, at the same time.
According to the Independent UK, the new fees come as Saudi Arabia struggles to fill holes in its balance sheet as its oil revenue continues to decline.
Meanwhile, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria recently disclosed that a total of 18 Nigerians lost their lives at the just concluded 2016 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The victims were mainly from Kwara, Kogi, Bauchi, Taraba, Niger, Kaduna, FCT but there were foreign-based Nigerian pilgrims among the dead as well.
naij.com
