The Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, unveiled groundbreaking initiatives on Tuesday to facilitate Umrah journeys for Indian pilgrims. As part of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom is set to open new visa centers in India and introduce budget-friendly flights to accommodate the increasing number of Indian tourists on their spiritual pilgrimage.
Al-Rabiah, during his official visit to New Delhi, emphasized the collaborative efforts between Saudi Arabia and India to enhance the Umrah experience through technological advancements, updated regulations, and improved infrastructure.
1. Increased Accessibility: To cater to the surge in Indian Umrah pilgrims, plans include adding more direct flights, with discussions underway to expand flight capacity through low-cost carriers like flynas and flyadeal.
2. Visa Simplification: Efforts are underway to streamline the visa application process, including the establishment of three new visa centers in India, making it more convenient for Indian pilgrims to obtain visas for Madina and Makkah.
3. Collaborative Platforms: The introduction of the Nusuk introductory platform exhibition and the Tashir center aims to facilitate visa services and offer valuable information to Indian pilgrims.
4. Hajj Pilgrimage: Discussions with Indian officials, including Smriti Irani, the Minister for Minorities, centered around deepening engagements and further easing the Hajj pilgrimage process for Indian nationals.
5. Bilateral Partnership: Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, India's Minister of State for External Affairs, expressed optimism about strengthening the overall bilateral partnership, emphasizing the significance of Hajj in fostering the relationship.
