Pilgrims furious after travel agent botches Mecca trip
A group of 50 people who were planning to make a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia were left seething when they discovered their travel agent had not organised their visas in time.
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Saudi Arabia extends deadline of biometric verification for Pakistani pilgrims till 1 January
The Saudi government has extended the deadline of biometric verification for Pakistani Umrah pilgrims till 1 January, 2018.
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Artificially intelligent algorithms to estimate Tawaf crowds at the Grand Mosque in Makkah
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque said it applies simulation programs to ensure the smooth flow of traffic in the mataf courtyard and on the upper floors, the roof and Al-Masaa at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
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Travel agencies can now issue Saudi tourist visas
Travel agencies in category D can now issue visas for tourists and for educational or medical treatment purposes inside and outside the Kingdom. The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) in Jeddah has issued the first license allowing a travel agency in category D to issue such visas, according to Sabq online newspaper.
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Saudi banks prepare for riyal coins
The one and two riyal coins will replace paper currency
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Saudi government reimposes condition of biometric verification for Pakistani Umrah pilgrims
The Saudi government has re-imposed the condition of biometric verification for the Pakistani citizens intending to perform Umrah.
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Couple nabbed for cheating would-be umrah pilgrims
Police have detained a married couple suspected of fleecing 48 people of their money meant for umrah packages, resulting in losses totalling RM356,200. The suspects, aged 47 and 43, were nabbed on Nov 28 after their statements were recorded at the Pekan police headquarters near here
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Katsina begins collection of Hajj Deposit
Katsina State Government has announced N300,000 as minimum hajj deposit for the state intending pilgrims ahead of next years hajj exercise.
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No More Kaaba Selfies For Pilgrims, M’sians Say ‘No Problem’
Future umrah and haj pilgrims from Malaysia will no longer be allowed to take photographs or selfies in the Mecca Grand Mosque or the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina due to a new rule by the Saudi government.
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Saudi Arabia rolls out new e-system to streamline Hajj and Umrah services
The move aims to deliver the highest efficiency for the arrival and departure of Hajj pilgrims as well as the services they receive whilst in the Kingdom.
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Global campaign to 'End Saudi Politicisation of Holy Places' begins
Indonesia’s capital Jakarta saw the launch of the Global Campaign to End Saudi Politicisation of Holy Places, which is an international movement that rejects Saudi Arabia’s politicisation of religious holy sites.
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Hajj: No going back on March 2018 payment deadline – NAHCON
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said there will be no extension of the March 2018 payment deadlines for intending pilgrims for next year’s hajj exercise.
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