In a sudden development, Saudi Arabia has increased visa fees
by nearly six times, which will make Hajj pilgrimage now very costly. Latest
report says, this move by Saudi Arabia has angered many Muslim countries or
those with a large Muslim population.
As reported, the single entry visa will now cost $533, up
from $93; whereas a multiple entry, 6-month visa would cost around $800, and a
one-year visa would cost &1333.
The revised Saudi Arabia visa fees affect all tourists, religious or business visitors, but exempts those traveling for the first time to perform the annual Haj pilgrimage or the lesser, non-mandatory pilgrimage known as the Umrah, said the report in Quartz Africa.
The pilgrimage involves considerable costs for travellers, in particular for transportation and lodging.
The plan, which was based on a recommendation from the Saudi Ministries of Finance and Economy, came into effect on October 2 and coincided with the beginning of the new Islamic year,as reported.
The new rules are seen as part of a wider campaign to lessen the kingdom’s dependence on oil and to increase revenues in other areas, including immigration fees, the report said.
The move to increase the fees could be very significant for the kingdom, given that millions of Muslims undertake the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina every year, the media report said.
The number of people who can perform the haj is determined by a Saudi government quota and has been dwindling over the last few years because of a mix of expansion plans, or to limit diseases like MERS, a respiratory infection, or Ebola.
