Radio Islam News | 27 October 2016

As discontent and uncertainty in the Muslim world persists over a decision by Saudi Arabia to dramatically hike visa fees for returning pilgrims, the list of Muslim nations lobbying the Saudi authorities to reconsider the decision continues to increase.

Here are some of the latest global #UmrahVisaFeesMustFall developments:

Jordan

The country’s Minister of Transport, Hussein al-So’ub, on Tuesday discussed with his Saudi counterpart, Suleiman al-Hamdan, the impact of the new visa fees on Jordanian drivers, who transfer industrial and agricultural products to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) countries.

On the sidelines of the Arab Transport Ministers Conference being held in Cairo, the two ministers discussed ways to boost ties between the two countries.

The Saudi Minister of Transport reportedly expressed his country’s readiness to cooperate in order to reach a compromise that satisfied all parties, and took into account the interests of both countries’ and their economy.

Al-So’ub said that the visa issue will be followed up through diplomatic channels between the two countries.

India

Maulana Peer Syed Shabbir Naqshbandi Iftekhari, president of the All India Religious Leaders Association recently met the representative of the Saudi monarch, Salman bin Abdul Aziz, His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Saud Al-Sati, Saudi Ambassador to India at Hotel Grand Kakatiya Begumpet during latter’s recent visit to Hyderabad.

During the meeting, the Maulana appraised the Saudi envoy of the unease prevailing among Indian Muslims due to compulsion of visa and insurance fee for devotees going to Hajj or Umrah for the second time. Dr. Mohammed Saud Al-Sati assured the cleric of sympathetic consideration on the issue and resolved to present the matter before the King for review.

Maulana Peer Shabbir Naqshbandi has been playing key role in strengthening Indo-Saudi relations for the past 40 years.

Pakistan

Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Shamim Ahmed Firpo has asked the Saudi government to review and withdraw the decision taken by the Council of Saudi Arabian Ministers to charge 2000 riyals as a visa fee from returning pilgrims commencing from this year’s Umrah season.

Shamim Ahmed Firpo, in a statement issued on Wednesday, pointed out that Pakistan, being the second largest Islamic country in terms of population, sends around 1 million pilgrims every year to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, but being an developing country, the majority of the country’s population belongs to middle and working class, hence such a huge increase in the levy on Umrah pilgrims would surely overburden them and result in substantial reduction of Umrah visitors to the holy land.

He said that although the Saudi Embassy and its consulate in Karachi have not issued any formal notification so far about the revision of Umrah fee, various reports in the print and electronic media along with widespread commentary on social media pointed to a decision of the Saudi Arabian Council of Ministers to revise the Umrah fee and that of other visa categories.

“The upsurge in Umrah fee has triggered anxiety amongst the masses, particularly those individuals, who have limited incomes,” he added.

Firpo said he was of the view that the decision to charge 2000 Saudi riyals of Umrah Pilgrims would deprive thousands of Pakistanis of a visit to the holy land for performing their religious obligations as most of the population would most certainly be unable to afford such an exorbitant hike in Umrah visa fees.

While taking into consideration the historic and time-tested relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Shamim Firpo was fairly optimistic that the Saudi government would pay attention to Karachi Chamber’s request and would issue directives to withdraw the said charges to facilitate millions of Pakistani Umrah pilgrims.

The KCCI President, in letters issued to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, appealed to take up this issue with Saudi authorities with a view to ensure relief for the intending Umrah pilgrims.

Malaysia

The Malaysian Tourism and Culture Ministry will engage with the Saudi Arabia’s government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the the kingdom’s decision to impose a visa charge for second-time Umrah visitors.

Deputy Minister Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the Malaysian government respects the Kingdom’s decision to impose a visa charge of 2000 Riyal or RM2250.

“We understand that the decision to impose the visa charge is due to economic reasons.

“But the issuance of the letter informing the visa charge comes so suddenly that most visitors and travel operators were caught off guard,” she said.

As the Umrah peak season approaches come November, travel agencies are worried that prospective Umrah visitors, especially those who had purchased Umrah package and airline ticket would back out at the last minute.

Mas Ermieyati said the ministry still needs to acquire further details on the visa charge before making any official statement on the matter.

Last Friday, a local online portal reported that Saudi Arabia will start imposing a higher visa charge for Umrah visitors on their second trip onwards.

The report stated that the imposition will only come through in the next Hajj year although some prospective Umrah visitors have cancelled their trips despite having made a deposit payment.

Bumiputra Travel and Tour Agents Association of Malaysia (Bumitra Malaysia) President Harith Mohd Ali said the visa charge would cost travel agencies in many ways.

“When prospective visitors cancel their trip, agencies who have made reservations at hotels will have to bear the cost.

“At the same, they would have purchased an airline ticket or charter a plane for the trip. Because of the cancellation, these agencies will lose a lot of money,” he said.

When asked to quantify the loss to be incurred by these agencies, Harith said it was still too early to tell.

“We hope the government can help negotiate with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to impose a flat rate on the visa charge so as not to burden prospective visitors.

“At the same time we urge travel agencies to be cautious when approaching this matter and ensure that the visitors are well informed of the changes,” he said.

The kingdom’s decision to impose a visa charge for second-time visitors applies to all countries including Indonesia and Singapore.

It was reported that the decision came about due to an economic turmoil plaguing the once-prosperous nation, propelled by falling crude oil price for the past few years.

Sources among local travel agencies confirmed that the kingdom might start imposing insurance fees and other charges to visitors soon as part of its effort to boost its income.

The kingdom’s government had also gone through budget cuts, and civil servants who were called to work during Hajj and Umrah season reportedly now no longer receive extra allowances for their service.

Reporting by Astro Awani, Siasat Daily, Daily Times and Petra News Agency