Haj ministry measures raise Omra costs

Touristic agency raised Omra rituals cost to avoid the loss it underwent last year due to the reduction of Omra performers’ number.

This comes as the Saudi Haj ministry established a new strategy in granting Omra visas. Some agencies raised the Islamic rituals cost to 30 million centimes for those who want to perform them during the fasting month of Ramadan.

According to a document sent to Haj and Omra agencies by the ministry, each country and agency has its share of visas and upper limit for each agency in each country is counted.

The share is calculated on a daily basis at 8 am while banned visas can not be recovered only after 45 days from their delivery.

A number of agencies’ owners complained about visas reimbursement as their holders did not even leave Algeria. They also expressed dissatisfaction over the reduction of granted visas without a prior notice.

According to them, Saudi Arabia took those measures due to coronavirus and Haram extension.

General Director of the Haj and Omra National Office Cheikh Berbara said no data were given about the number of applicants authorized to perform Omra rituals during Chaabane and Ramadan months.

He told Echorouk that the number of Omra performers has reached 156,000 until Wednesday since the beginning of the season.