Saudi Gazette report

KUALA LUMPUR — Saudi Arabia will welcome 31,600 pilgrims from Malaysia among the two million pilgrims the Kingdom is preparing to receive during the 2023 Hajj season, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah announced.

This came during a press conference the minister held in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, on the sidelines of his official visit to Malaysia, as part of an official delegation.

Al-Rabiah said that we are all for competition between Hajj service providers, adding, “Allowing competition between Hajj service providers will help reduce costs for pilgrims and raise the quality of services.”

He announced reducing the cost of Hajj insurance by 73 percent. Al-Rabiah pointed out that issuance of visas electronically is being done through the “Nusuk” platform.

He noted that holders of all entry visas to the Kingdom can perform Umrah. He stressed that having a Mahram is no longer a condition for a woman to perform Umrah.

The minister said Saudi Arabia is developing religious sites and historical monuments to enrich the journey of pilgrims.

He added that Malaysians could obtain a one-year or multiple-entry electronic visa, from Malaysia or upon arrival to the Kingdom.