Saudi Arabia deprives 45,000 Algerians of Omra

Algeria’s quota of Omra visas for the fasting month of Ramadan fell to 45,000 compared to last year as Saudi Arabia offered visas to 94,600 Algerians this year, according to the General Director of Hadj and Omra National Office Cheikh Berbara.

“Official figures show that the number of visas was reduced to 45,000 compared to 130,000 last year. A total of 45,000 were deprived of the visas as the Saudi Hadj ministry set Ramadan 15^th as deadline for visas,” Berbara told Echorouk on Thursday.

He added that Algeria contacted the Saudi ministry to intervene and compensate Algerian agencies who had contracts with it. “The ministry did not receive any reply and we are waiting what Saudi authorities will do.”

Coordinator of Hadj and Omra agencies at touristic agencies federation Ilyes Snoussi stressed the necessity of calling on Saudi authorities to intervene. “Agencies are counting their damage before announcing it in an official way,” he told Echorouk.