Saudi minister introduces new measures easing Umrah travel for Bangladeshis

Friday, August 25, 2023

Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah held meetings with officials in Dhaka on Wednesday to introduce new measures facilitating the arrival of Bangladeshi pilgrims for Umrah.

The Saudi minister arrived in Bangladesh on Tuesday night on a two-day trip that is part of efforts to highlight the Kingdom’s progress in transforming the pilgrimage system.

He reached Bangladesh from Pakistan, where the Saudi Tourism Authority launched Nusuk, the e-visa, planning and booking platform that allows travellers to create pilgrimage itineraries for Makkah, Madinah and beyond, and organize their visit to Saudi Arabia.

The platform will also be launched in Bangladesh during Al-Rabiah’s visit.

Almost 3 million Bangladeshis live and work in Saudi Arabia. They are the largest expat group in the Kingdom and also the biggest Bangladeshi community outside Bangladesh.

Changes to the Kingdom’s policies allow those performing Umrah to stay longer.

Anyone coming for Umrah, visiting Makkah and Madinah can go and visit any city in Saudi Arabia —Riyadh, Dammam and other cities and visit their loved ones, their relatives, their friends in Saudi Arabia.

He also announced new visas for those transiting via Saudi Arabia. Bangladeshi nationals traveling with Saudi airlines can now obtain the visas directly at airports.

Exchanges between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh have been on the rise since March, when a delegation led by Saudi Commerce Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi visited Dhaka.

In the coming weeks, the Kingdom’s investment minister, Khalid Al-Falih, is also expected to visit the country.

The relationship between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia is always a very strong relation and it will continue in that way. And they are working to make it even stronger, Al-Rabiah said.

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