By Ragheema Mclean The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) has issued a reminder to prospective pilgrims emphasizing the limited timeframe for acceptance or deferral of accreditation for Hajj 2024. With only four days left for accredited pilgrims to confirm their status, SAHUC set a deadline of December 31,[…]
INTERNATIONAL A man who dedicated an Umrah pilgrimage to the late Queen Elizabeth II from the Grand Mosque of Mecca was arrested by Saudi police on Monday. The Saudi Public Security agency said on Twitter the Yemeni resident was arrested for violating the Umrah rules by carrying a sign after he posted a video of himself[…]
Travel operators expect the South African umrah season to start in December or January next year. Although South Africa’s borders are open for travel and umrah for international travellers has commenced, South Africans have not been granted umrah visas by the Saudi government yet. In October, Saudi Arabia began the[…]
Some 10,000 foreign pilgrims are arriving in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah after a seven-month pause because of the coronavirus pandemic. The pilgrims must isolate for three days after arrival before being transported to religious sites, according to Amr Al-Maddah, deputy minister of Hajj and Umrah. They will be allowed[…]
A limited number of people circled Islam’s holiest site in Mecca on Sunday after Saudi Arabia lifted coronavirus restrictions that had been in place for months. The kingdom took the rare step of suspending the Umrah – the smaller pilgrimage that draws millions all year round from around the world[…]
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has developed a mobile application that will be available a week before the umrah resumes so that pilgrims can register and book on it. They will also need to follow the health guidelines provided in the app. The app will ensure the implementation[…]
The South African Hajj and Umrah Council has released its audited financial statements for 2019-2020, which shows it has a surplus of over R5 million. This is an increase of R465 000 compared to last year. Sahuc’s financial income, until March 2020, was released during its annual general meeting held[…]
The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) and the South African Muslim Travel Operator’s Association (Samtoa) has welcomed the announcement that Saudi Arabia will be gradually resuming umrah for a limited number of mu’tamireen, with international flights expected as early as November 2020. It follows the cancelling of all[…]
The South African Haj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) says there is no definitive answer on whether umrah will open up to international travellers early next year. Saudi Arabia has announced it will open its international borders on 1st January 2021, however, the decision will be reviewed in December. The Kingdom[…]
In a major shake-up for the local Muslim travel industry, South African Muslim Travel Association (SAMTA) has united with The South African Travel Hajj and Umrah Operators Association (SATHUOA) to form a national organization called South African Muslim Travel Operators Association (SAMTOA.) Speaking to VOC News, the chairperson of the[…]
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