It was not long ago when Saudi Artist Manal AlDowayan set up trampolines on the tan sands of Al Ula. When looked at from the sky, the trampolines looked like water puddles in the hot desert. These installed trampolines were intended to draw attention to the water crisis in the Al Ula region. The TikTok videos of the trampolines became viral and garnered a lot of attention from the public, which in a way, established the city of Al Ula on the world map of art.

Al Ula is undoubtedly Saudi Arabia’s best-kept secret. Al Ula, once a part of the Silk Route, has an amazing landscape with an old city dating back to the 12th century. People can find old mazes made of bricks and mud and incredible picturesque rock formations, naturally sculpted into beautiful shapes. The desert is also home to UNESCO’s world heritage site of Hegra, quite similar to the ancient city of Petra in Jordan.

Wadi AlFann project

To make Al Ula the next artistic and cultural destination for tourists in Saudi Arabia, the Royal Commission for Al Ula (RCU), in close collaboration with national and international artists, has come together to execute a challenging new project known as ‘Wadi AlFann’ or the ‘Valley of the Arts’. The project will span 65 square kilometers. The initiative is a significant part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 2030 Vision. According to this, the country is attempting to build an economy which is not primarily dependent on oil and petroleum by promoting Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination and cultural hub.

The project has attracted some major international names, including artist Agnes Denes, who is famous for planting and harvesting two acres of wheat just a few buildings away from Wall Street, and James Turrell, who turned an extinct volcano in Arizona into a significant piece of art. The project has also attracted entertainment artists like Kanye West. The project is under the supervision of famous curator Iwona Blazwick, a former director of London’s Whitechapel Gallery.

Current developments

While there will always be concerns about censorship and restrictions in Saudi Arabia, things do seem to be changing. For example, the human image is crucial to Saudi artist Ahmed Mater’s vision even though Islamic art prohibits human illustration. Agnes Denes will build distinctive pyramids, and Manal AlDowayan will use a maze-like setup modeled on the old city’s mud walls to record the stories and memories of local people.

Returning to Al Ula’s development as an artistic and tourist destination, this process looks to be well underway. The city has successfully hosted Desert X, a Coachella-style art event; the largest Saudi gallery, Athr, has opened an exhibition space here; a number of opulent resorts are opening to give tourists a taste of glamping in the desert, and operators offer helicopter tours so that visitors can take pictures in the breathtaking scenery. Al Ula, which is about a four-hour journey from Madinah, also boasts of having an international airport.

Suggested Read: 8 Popular Places To Visit In Al Ula, A Global Cultural Hub In The KSA

The post Wadi AlFann Project To See Monumental Artworks By Eminent Artists appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

The Almutlaq Real Estate Investment Co. (AREIC), a division of the Al Mutlaq Group, and The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), the company driving the largest regenerative tourism initiative in the world, have engaged in a joint venture partnership recently.

According to the agreement, the two companies will come together to develop a 159-key luxury resort — Jumeirah, The Red Sea. It will be established on the Red Sea’s hub island, Shura. The deal, which is worth over SAR 1.5 billion (USD 400 million), will steer the Red Sea Project initiated by the Saudi government. The luxurious resort is now under development and is scheduled to open to the public in the coming two years. A golf course, more than a hundred-berth marina, residential apartments, extensive shopping, eating, and entertainment centers will be there on Shura Island as components of the first phase of development for the Red Sea Project. The strategic collaboration, the first Joint Venture for TRSDC, shows the business sector’s belief in transforming the Red Sea into a new tourist destination.

Jumeirah, The Red Sea is a significant opening for Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Project. It is a part of the first wave of hotels to open along the giga-project. The Jumeirah team is sure that it understands the functioning of the market as the Dubai-based business starts to develop hotels in Saudi Arabia.

The joint venture

This joint venture investment furthered the private sector’s commitment to sustainable development and regenerative tourism. This agreement also boosts the Kingdom’s goals of Vision 2030 to diversify economic growth prospects.

The joint venture with AREIC illustrates the considerable willingness of the business sector to engage in and invest in Vision 2030, even though finance for phase one of The Red Sea Project is already secured and in place. In a similar framework, TRSDC is in simultaneous conversations with several many other companies about investing in Saudi’s most ambitious, the Red Sea Project. It wants to collaborate with these companies to invest in commercial assets, such as its hotels and resorts, leisure activities, and retail and eating establishments. Additionally, the developer’s increasing portfolio includes AMAALA and other projects that will soon be launched, providing new prospects for investors.

As the first-ever green financing in Riyals, TRSDC was recognized with two awards — the Best New Green Loan Financing Project Award at the International Finance Awards 2022 and the Project Finance Deal of the Year Award at the Capital Markets Saudi Arabia Awards in 2021.

The Red Sea Project has made considerable strides on the ground, with Phase One now more than halfway finished and a number of crucial assets, including corporations and offices, a four-star hotel, and the biggest landscape nursery in the area, already fully functioning.

The Red Sea Project will have 50 resorts when it is finished in 2030, delivering more than a thousand residential homes and hotel rooms across 20+ islands and around six inland places. The location will also have a luxury marina, golf course, entertainment venues, and an international airport.

Suggested Read: Top 13 Beach Resorts In Saudi Arabia For A Peaceful Retreat

The post New Contract Allocates 400Mn Dollars To Jumeirah, The Red Sea Resort appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

A meeting attended by Ambassador Tamim Al-Dosari, Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs, Ambassador Saad Al-Arifi, Head of Saudi Arabia’s Mission to the European Union, and Ambassador Patrick Simonet of the European Union to the Kingdom, discussed on ways to make it easier for Saudi citizens to enter Schengen nations without first acquiring a visa.

The meeting was presided over by Dimitri Giotakos, Director General of Home Affairs at the European Commission for the EU, and by Ambassador Tamim Al-Dosari, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Consular Affairs for Saudi Arabia. Although no precise date has been announced for the visa exemption collaboration to be agreed upon or implemented, both sides’ authorities intend to finalize such an agreement shortly.

Agenda of the meeting

The two parties examined bilateral ties between Saudi Arabia and the EU and how to further develop them. They also talked about innovative approaches to make it easier for Saudi citizens to enter nations in the Schengen zone without a visa. In order to further the shared interests of the Kingdom and the EU countries, they also emphasized their intention to intensify collaboration.

Last month, the diplomat emphasized that “the European Union is working in parallel with a system to exempt all citizens of the Gulf countries from visas” in a daily statement to the Asharq Al-Awsat. The European announcements came roughly a month after British authorities said they would make it simpler for Saudi Arabian citizens to obtain visas 24 hours before traveling digitally. Also, the governments of Europe and Saudi Arabia are always working to make travel easier for their residents.

The Background

According to earlier statements by Saudi Arabian authorities, anyone with a Schengen visa is eligible to perform Umrah without first needing a Saudi Arabian visa. The decision was made shortly after Saudi Arabian authorities declared they would resume granting visas on arrival to anyone who already has a Schengen visa.

Due to these new regulations, everyone who has a Schengen visa is qualified to get a tourist visa upon entering Saudi Arabia. A Schengen visa-free policy has been established over time by agreements between the Schengen area and nations outside of the Schengen area.

Suggested Read: Umrah Guide 2022: Best Time, Visa, Accommodation, Essentials And More

However, Saudi Arabia and the Schengen nations have not yet passed any visa-free agreement; the Saudi entry to Schengen Nations is not possible as of now. This implies that a Saudi national with a passport needs a Schengen visa to enter the Schengen area. Travel to the region is permitted for 90 days during 180 days with a Schengen visa.

The post Saudi Arabia, EU Discuss Saudi Entry To Schengen Nations Without A Visa appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

During the Hajj season this year, approximately one million individuals have been admitted, including 850,000 foreigners. As Makkah got ready to welcome the largest Hajj trip since the Covid-19 pandemic, business owners have also prepared themselves to benefit from this year’s pilgrimage in full capacity.

Makkah’s business owners are content

In the holiest city in Islam, Abdullah Mekhlafi, a prayer mat seller, thanked God for the market’s return. He blamed the pandemic for business owners’ losses during the past two years. But things are different this year, maybe even better than before. Additionally, a lot of business owners claimed that their losses might be made up this year. Only about 2.5 million people made the entire yearly pilgrimage in 2019.

After the pandemic took over the next year, foreigners were prohibited from attending Hajj, and the total number of pilgrims was limited to 10,000 to prevent the Hajj from becoming a virus super-spreader on a global scale. In 2021, the number of fully immunized Saudi citizens and residents increased to 60,000.

Hajj 2022 regains its former glory

The Hajj, which costs at least $5,000 per person, and Umrah pilgrimages, which take place at different times in a year, are often a significant source of money for Saudi Arabia, notably its tourist industry. On a regular basis, they produce around $12 billion each year, keeping Makkah’s economy humming.

Recently, the city has seen a development boom that has brought new shopping malls, residential structures, and opulent lodgings to the area — some of which provide breathtaking views of the Holy Kaaba. However, throughout the pandemic, these projects struggled to find buyers, so their owners were encouraged by the sights in Makkah on days before the Hajj 2022 officially started.

White-robed devotees have been pouring into souvenir and barber shops in the two million-person city. A far cry from a year before, when the area seemed nearly desolate, the main shopping center next to the Grand Mosque, where many lodgings are located, was bustling with pilgrims once again.

Monumental occasions

The changes in Makkah reflect Saudi Arabia’s most recent financial successes. Due to a fall in global demand, the dominion saw a sharp drop in oil prices during the pandemic. This led to the implementation of austerity measures such as doubling the value-added tax and reductions in civil worker allowances. Things seem to have changed, particularly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. Early in May, Saudi Arabia said that its economy had grown at its fastest rate in ten years, with the first quarter’s growth over the same period in 2021 increasing by 9.6%.

According to the International Monetary Fund’s report released in April 2022, Saudi Arabia’s GDP will increase by 7.6% in 2022. As a key component of the Vision 2030 reform plan promoted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the largest oil exporter in the world, Saudi Arabia is working to diversify its banking system. The strategy includes a significant amount of tourism, making a successful hajj even more crucial. According to Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the tourism minister, Saudi Arabia’s current goal is to treble its international travel this year as pandemic restrictions loosen.

Thirty million of the hundred million domestic and international tourists projected for 2030 are expected to travel mostly to Makkah and Madinah on spiritual pilgrimages, anticipating huge gains for business owners in Makkah.

Suggested Read: Hajj – The Primary Muslim Pilgrimage To Mecca: Rules, Rituals And More

The post Makkah Witnesses A Spike In Hajj 2022 Pilgrims, Ending The Pandemic Decline appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

According to Jazeera, flights to Hail will start on July 21 and those to Abha on July 17. With a dedicated check-in area, speedy immigration, and close proximity to gates, terminal 5 (T5) at Kuwait International Airport is owned and operated by Jazeera Airways to improve customers’ travel experience. With a stable fleet of ‘Airbus A320’ and ‘A320neo’ planes, Jazeera Airways serves more than 50 locations. In June 2018, Jazeera’s airline added the ‘A320neo’ to its fleet for the first time in the Middle East.

Flights to Hail

Hail, where Jazeera Airways is planning to launch its flight on July 21, is a city in North Western Saudi Arabia. It is a well-liked destination on the pilgrimage to Makkah. The city of Hail is renowned for hosting international events, such as the ‘Hail International Rally’, where rally vehicles, quads, and motorbikes race through Hail, Baqaa, Al Ghazalah, and the town of Umm Al Qulban, as well as ‘The Desert Festival’, which honors the local culture.

Suggested Read: 6 Most Beautiful Tourist Places To Visit In Hail, Saudi Arabia

Flights to Abha

Abha, where Jazeera Airways is planning to launch its flight on July 17, is a city near the Red Sea coast. It serves as the Aseer region’s culturally vibrant capital and a fantastic starting point for trips throughout this hilly region of Arabia. The city has many attractions to explore, including the ‘Abha Dam Lake’ and the ‘Abha Palace Theme Park’, as well as the former mud-walled ‘Shada Palace’, which is now a museum. One can also shop in the thriving traditional markets of Abha and Khamis Mushait, a sister city.

Suggested Read: 10 Best Places To Visit In Abha: Shada Palace, Shamsan Fort And More

“We are very excited to be expanding our footprint in Saudi to offer our customers more routes to the kingdom, providing access to new tourism sites and commercial centres as we now offer over 80 flights a week into KSA”, said the CEO of Jazeera Airways, Rohit Ramchandran.

On Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, flight no. J9-21 will depart Kuwait at 12:20 PM and arrive in Hail at 1:30 PM. On the return trip, flight no. J9-22 will leave Hail at 2:30 PM and land in Kuwait at 3:40 PM.

According to Jazeera, flight no. J9-237 will depart Kuwait on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 8:05 AM and arrive at Abha Airport at 10:15 AM. The return flight, J9-238, will depart Abha at 11:15 AM and land in Kuwait at 1:15 PM.

The post Jazeera Airways To Start Operations In Two More Saudi Cities appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

The mobility company SYSTRA is expected to complete and finalize its design studies for the tram system by the year 2023. The design work will begin this year itself. The tram carriages are expected to resemble the design of rolling stock, which is very similar to the carriages that are present in the historic Hijaz railway system. The project is focused on developing a system that will reduce carbon emissions to a great extent making the environment relatively more sustainable. The stations that will be built under this project are going to act as public transport hubs for the local area. The tram network has been planned to be developed in two phases. It will span over a distance of nearly 50 km, stretching from Hegra, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north, to the Al Ula International Airport in the south.

The tram project across Al Ula

The project’s main purpose is to provide passengers with the means to commute comfortably. The new trams are expected to provide the passengers with a modern and a slightly luxurious experience in their travel. The tram carriages will be traveling along the Hijaz line, which is expected to be renovated during this project. The tram cars will be passing through the Al Ula valley, bringing passengers from Damascus, Syria, to Medina in Saudi Arabia. The new stopping line has been developed while considering the convenience of the pilgrims. The newly projected line is expected to enhance the experience of the locals and the visitors. The ambition is to turn Al Ula into a global destination for tourism.

The red line

The ‘red’ line is expected to provide easy connectivity across all the major locations that are a part of RCU’s Journey Through Time route scheme. The first phase will be over 20 km in length and will act as a stimulant for future development projects. The stations that will fall under this phase include Hegra South, Equestrian Village North, Equestrian Village South, Nabataean Farms, Al Uthayb, the Incense Museum, Jabal Ikmah, Tal Al-Khatib, Dadan North, Dadan Village, and Dadan, Al Jadidah, Old Town, Al Ula Hijaz, and Al Ula Central East. These stations also include multiple other transport services, including personal cycle rentals, electric bike rentals, and other vehicles that the locals can easily access.

The second phase is supposed to stretch over a length of no less than 30 km, running to the airport. It will further nourish Al Ula, making it an important regional transport center.

The RCU is expected to collaborate with town planners who will map and remodel roads to accommodate the tram cars and further help divert traffic. The trams will have the potential to operate at a maximum speed of 50 kmph. This will hugely impact traffic as the dependency on personal cars will likely be minimized. It will greatly cut down on traffic and reduce carbon emissions to a great extent while increasing connectivity. All of this will help Al Ula become a carbon-neutral zone by 2035. All in all, this amazing tram network connecting Al Ula and its key landmarks will be a big boost for the tourism sector.

Suggested Read: 8 Popular Places To Visit In Al Ula, A Global Cultural Hub In The KSA

The post RCU To Develop Tram Network Connecting Al Ula Landmarks appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

Asir region has been named “World Region of Gastronomy 2024” by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT), making it the first non-European region to win the title. The title is awarded to grant the honor to various regions of countries showing exceptional culinary skills developed in a sustainable environment. The President of IGCAT, Diane Dodd, will honor the region in an official ceremony in Italy in September 2022.

Authorities behind the win

The Saudi Culinary Arts Commission initiated this massive endeavor with the help of various partners, including the Beekeepers Cooperative Association, Saudi Tourism Authority, Heritage Commission, King Khalid University, Water and Agriculture, Aseer Development Authority, Saudi Tourism Society, Bunyan for Training, Ministry of Environment, Saudi Heritage Preservation Society, Social Development Committee, Soudah Development Company, Abha Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Restaurants and Cafes Association, Environment Development Society, and the Ministry of Education.

The IGCAT jury visited the Asir region in February and March 2022 and met local stakeholders to evaluate Asir’s preparations for winning the title. The visit left the jury full of optimism as the region’s efforts to encourage local culture and diversity in food presented quite a promising picture. The steps that have been taken to ensure sustainability through biodiversity and environmental preservation also left a hopeful impression. The region also boasted of preserving traditional culture and know-how that would educate young generations and make room for newer innovations.

The judges praised the friendly attitudes of the local people in Asir and their endless efforts to show and promote their local food and culture. They also noted the pride and love of chefs, farmers, local marketers, producers, young innovators, and guides for their culture and heritage, as well as the cooperation between them to preserve their traditional food culture.

This win is not only historic but extremely significant for the region in particular, as the local community will greatly benefit from it. Their traditional culture and distinguished cuisine will reach the corners of the world. The community will be able to present their traditional methods of cooking and the ways in which many food issues can be tackled, paving the way for a more sustainable and healthy way of life.

Asir’s sustainable development

Through the win, Asir has been able to prove that both preservation of culture and sustainable development can go hand-in-hand. They were able to show that local communities’ engagement is of utmost importance for environmental protection and the promotion of biodiversity. Even while cooking traditionally, the community members proved to limit the use of single-use plastic and other pollutants. Regional stakeholders like farmers and producers must cooperate to achieve a worldwide regional identity.

The “World Region of Gastronomy 2024” title is said to benefit the region’s economy by encouraging more public and private funding. This, in turn, will enhance the quality of products and services in the region, which will lead to increased tourism. With better funding and planning, the region can boost its sustainable programs and increase the value of Asir’s local community and culture.

IGCAT strives to empower local communities by educating them on the need to preserve and promote their local food culture and heritage, including arts and natural resources, as part of long-term tourism and development initiatives. This is critical for the protection of our world, our health, our well-being, and our local economy. The non-profit organization aims to promote sustainable tourism through gastronomy, arts, and culture.

Suggested Read: Top Places To Visit In Asir Region: A Tryst With Saudi’s Charming Beauty

The post Saudi Arabia Wins The ‘World Region Of Gastronomy 2024’ appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

For the first time, the launch of Jeddah Season 2022, themed “Our Good Days”, coincided with the arrival of Eid Al-Fitr. The Jeddah Art Promenade, as well as Cirque du Soleil, debuted at the event on May 2, corresponding with Eid al-Fitr. The event also saw daily pyrotechnics. Visitors were able to see many of the city’s distinctive features as the festival was spread out around the city.

Over the course of 60 days, a record of 2,800 contemporary and traditional activities were offered for leisure purposes showcasing Jeddah’s artistic inventory and historical legacy.

“The incorporation of services and the range of services also added to the surge in demand that Jeddah Art has seen in recent days”, according to SPA. “This is likely to draw more tourists throughout the season”.

Highlights of Jeddah Season 2022

As a portion of the Cirque du Soleil, internationally renowned artists entertained the tourists with acrobatic shows, juggling, helium balloons, and swings. According to the organizers, there was a high level of engagement and involvement. As per them, the season included over 2,800 activities, 60 amusement games, 20 performances, and four foreign exhibitions. The Riyadh Season, a comparable event, attracted nearly 15 million people by the time it closed on March 31. Riyadh Season, which spanned 5.4 million square meters and was organized by the Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA), featured hundreds of music, art, cultural, cuisine, and sports activities.

The Jeddah season 2022 has also piqued the interest of the city’s expat families, who are mostly from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. They’ve been eager to see the variety of musical and entertainment performances, some of which were produced specifically for the Jeddah Season.

According to Abdullah Al-Dousi, a Jeddah-based librarian, the Jeddah Season’s record attendance is not surprising. “The large number indicates the seaside city’s historical, cultural, and recreational advantages. It also emphasizes the Bride of the Red Sea’s (Jeddah) prominent place on the regional tourism map”, he stated.

Jeddah season events

Thousands of Saudi nationals, locals, and tourists dressed up as their favorite film and fictional characters to attend the Kingdom’s inaugural cosplay event. The 2-month event was part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which was announced in 2016 to advocate for a series of social and economic changes aiming at improving the quality of life for Saudi Arabian inhabitants and diversifying the economy.

Jeddah Season 2022 had a wonderful line-up of theatrical acts, concerts, magnificent displays, and thrilling activities. Fireworks displays on Jeddah’s beachfront, K-pop performances, a technology festival, as well as the Fuzion circus show were among the events on the schedule, which also included performances and plays by Arab and foreign theatrical groups.

Jeddah’s Superdome, Jeddah Jungle, Al-Jawhara Stadium, Jeddah Art Promenade, Jeddah Yacht Club, Jeddah Pier, City Walk, Prince Majed Park, and Al-Balad were the festival’s nine zones scattered around Jeddah. The City Walk zone featured a massive comic-con festival for anime fans, and Prince Majed Park has weekly bazaars, art exhibitions, and a fair. In addition, the Jeddah Yacht Club offered a unique combination of marine sports and beachside hangouts.

The Season was a massive success with over five million tourists visiting the festival spread all over the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia.

Must Read: The Fantastic Jeddah Season 2022! Events, Concerts, And Attractions You Must Not Miss

The post This Year, The Jeddah Season, KSA Welcomed Five Million Visitors appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia recently stated that the country is getting ready to welcome one million pilgrims for Hajj 2022, including 150,000 pilgrims from inside Saudi Arabia. The ministry conducted a nine-day registration process for Muslims living in Saudi Arabia who wish to perform this year’s annual Hajj pilgrimage. During these nine days, the ministry received over 390,000 requests from resident Muslims to perform Hajj in 2022. Commencing at the beginning of June, the registration process of Hajj 2022 for domestic pilgrims ended at midnight on Saturday, i.e., June 11, 2022.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the successful nominees for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage late on Sunday. The ministry made the selection of candidates through an electronic draw, with priority given to those who have been fully vaccinated and haven’t performed Hajj before. Once the registration was carried out via the Eatmarna app, the applicants were sorted, and an e-draw was conducted to choose the nominees who meet the Hajj conditions. The would-be pilgrims were informed of their selection via text messages and were given 48 hours to pay for their desired Hajj packages, after which Hajj permits were issued to them. There is no provision for the domestic pilgrims who have registered for this year’s Hajj to check the status of their application or e-draw status.

Hajj 2022 packages

For the Hajj season this year, the ministry has slashed prices for the three hospitality packages. Now, the ‘Al-Abraj’ package costs SR 13,943.75 per pilgrim, the ‘Undeveloped Tents’ package costs SR 9,098.80 per pilgrim, and the ‘Developed Tents’ package costs SR 11,970.35. These prices do not include value-added tax and air or land transportation from and to Makkah. Based on their package, domestic pilgrims will stay in Mina’s residential towers in sophisticated tents akin to hotel rooms or normal tents with full facilities.

Hajj 2022 eligibility

After restricting the holy annual pilgrimage to thousands of Muslims living both inside and outside the country for two consecutive years due to the pandemic, Saudi Arabia has finally relaxed the COVID-19 restrictions. According to the acting head of the Coordination Council for Domestic Pilgrims, Saed Al Juhani, the ministry will also reintroduce the open buffet service after a suspension of two years due to the pandemic-related restrictions. As per the conditions stipulated by the ministry, eligible pilgrims must be under 65 years of age, fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and successfully able to provide a negative PCR test result.

Earlier, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed that pilgrims from Australia, North America, and Europe could also register for Hajj 2022 electronically. Thousands of pilgrims belonging to these regions were able to successfully register for the pilgrimage by submitting the required information and documents, including COVID-19 vaccination certificates and passports. Those who registered were also entered into the e-lottery process for the respective packages. If successful, they should complete the online payment process, following which the requests are sent to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue visas in consultation with the information center.

The date for Hajj 2022 will most likely be during the first or second week of July. The final date will only be confirmed after the new moon of Dhul Hijjah is sighted. Accordingly, the Hajj flight schedule for local pilgrims will be announced in due course.

The post E-Draw Conducted As Hajj Registration For Domestic Pilgrims Closes appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

The Ministry announced that domestic pilgrims preparing to take part in the Hajj pilgrimage 2022 are allowed to register themselves and book their choice of Hajj packages from the available options. Priority would be given to pilgrims who have not appeared for Hajj before and are fully vaccinated.

Earlier authorized and unauthorized agents both were booking domestic and foreign pilgrims’ for their accommodation, transport, and other such services. They were largely unorganized and worked without much surveillance. But this year onwards, the country has made booking all such services easier and more transparent. These agents and companies are now catering to the pilgrims through the Hajj authorities’ official website and app. Only trusted companies are available to provide their services.

Domestic pilgrims now need to visit the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s official website or get the Eatmarna app to choose their package and complete their registration. These packages will include the companies that are providing their services. All applications will be recorded, and arrangements will be made accordingly.

Hajj 2022 packages and bookings

Domestic pilgrims will be allowed to stay in Mina’s residential towers, in normal tents with full facilities or sophisticated tents akin to hotel rooms, a new kind of lodging being provided for the first time. Food will be provided in buffets, as opposed to the previous two years, when pilgrims used to get individual meals in compliance with pandemic guidelines and restrictions.

The pilgrimage is available to anybody under age 65 who has been immunized against COVID-19 using vaccinations recognized by the Kingdom. However, access to the holy city of Makkah has been restricted as the city prepares to conduct the pilgrimage that is about to take place from July 7 to July 12. In 2019, the year before the pandemic, around 2 million pilgrims from all around the globe participated in Hajj. Saudi officials authorized just a thousand domestic pilgrims to participate in 2020 but increased the limit to 60,000 in 2021 as the people in the Kingdom were getting vaccinated.

Earlier, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that the country is planning to expand its hosting capacity for the Hajj pilgrimage from this year onwards. The authorities highlighted that this year as many as 1 million foreign pilgrims would be performing Hajj as the COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed. While talking about domestic pilgrims, it was observed that as many as 1,50,000 have registered for Hajj in 2022. To be able to enter Saudi Arabia, foreign pilgrims will have to submit a negative COVID PCR test conducted within 72 hours before they enter Saudi territory.

Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is the biggest and the most important event for a Muslim. It is the once-in-a-lifetime duty of a Muslim to visit the place if the person can afford it. The last two years were a nightmare for foreign and domestic people planning to appear for the pilgrimage. The seats were highly restricted, with limited services. With Vision 2030 in mind, the country plans to conduct a full-scale Hajj with maximum safety and security from this year onwards.

Suggested Read: Hajj – The Primary Muslim Pilgrimage To Mecca: Rules, Rituals And More

The post MoHU Announces Hajj 2022 Packages And Bookings For Domestic Pilgrims appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.