JEDDAH – Saudi embassies have issued over 1.6 million Haj visas from its embassies across the globe, in much quicker time this year.
This was announced recently by Ambassador Muhammad Al-Salum, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Consular Affairs.
This year, more visas were approved in less time because of a new central system linking all authorities concerned with the Haj, said Al-Salum.
The system has “efficiently” eased and expedited the processing of pilgrims’ passports at the points of entry, by linking these points with Saudi embassies, consulates, and missions.
Apart from issuing Haj visas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a safety campaign for all applicants. In accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, Saudi foreign missions have required all countries to take preventive measures to tackle swine flu. Foreign governments have been urged to launch media campaigns to educate their pilgrims on the A-H1N1 virus.
The Kingdom has also deployed foreign missions to issue Haj visas for the nationals of governments where Saudi Arabia does not have embassies. This includes Macedonia, Togo, Comoros, Kosovo, Gambia, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Benin, Mauritius, Tajikstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Trinidad. He added that the visas were approved in line with the criteria laid down by the Minister of Interior, Ministry of Haj, Ministry of Health, and the Civil Aviation Authority.