Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-03-12

Saudi Arabia has announced people intending to go to Saudi Arabia for umrah, hajj or business will have to go for biometric fingerprints before visas are issued.

South African Muslims will have a major challenge as all Muslims will have to present themselves in person.

It’s anticipated the new regulations are to be rolled out from June this year and was discussed with the embassy and Vsftasheel operators in Sandton yesterday (11 March).

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Saudi Arabia is rolling out this requirement to 33 countries worldwide. So far 16 out of 33 countries have already been rolled out. And as a result and South Africa is becoming one of them,” Shaheen Essop the President of the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) told Radio Islam.

Essop said the regulation is not necessarily for Umrah only but also applies to business visas and anybody else wanting to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“It will also apply to Hajj Insha’Allah,” added Essop.

Essop said the purpose of the programme according to the representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the VFS Company is to help eliminate the times spent at immigration when the mu’tamireen or pilgrim arrives at the King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah.

“Biometric finger printing as well as facial recognition will be done in South Africa and that then will be sent through to the system, so it will take probably the maximum part of about five minutes per person at King Abdulaziz international, that’s according to the report we received,” said Essop.

Essop said if people require more information on the new program or the regulations, they can visit:

http://www.saudivisas.vsftasheel.com/

Or the offices at:

8th floor, Fredman Tower,
13 Fredman Drive
Sandton.

                     
(Twitter: @Faizie143)