With Haj 1436 done and dusted and attention now directed at the coming umrah season, the local travel industry is anticipating a boom in South Africans making their way to the holy lands. With thousands set to undertake the pilgrimage in the coming months, particularly over the busy festive season[…]
Saudi Arabia has decided to triple the number of umrah visas issued every year, referring the sharp increase to the new expansions in the haram area. “We are going online as an ambitious plan to double the number of Umrah pilgrims during the next five years,” Hajj Minister Bandar Al-Hajjar[…]
The five security teams and special forces consisting of 32,000 security personnel are coordinating to deal with crowds and congestion in the central zone and Grand Mosque in order to ensure the safety of worshippers and pilgrims. Security authorities are working together to cover all internal and external areas of the[…]
Ramadaan has always been a peak season in terms of South Africans visiting the holy lands for umrah, but 2015 has seen something of a decrease in numbers undertaking the journey. The holy cities have historically been flooded with pilgrims during the fasting period, where many choose to spend the[…]
Operators are reeling in umrah pilgrims intending to make the pilgrimage to the holy Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the month of Ramadan, by offering packages for a 30 day stay. However, the South African Travel and Haj Operators Association (Sathoa) says the Saudi Hajj Ministry has only allocated 15[…]
Sara Omar, grandma of US President Barack Obama, has emphasized the significance of the Prophet Muhammad exhibition in Makkah and said it reflects the moderate teachings of Islam that calls for tolerance and rejects violence. Sara has come to Makkah with her son Saeed Obama, uncle of President Obama and[…]
Umrah operators have reported a decrease in pilgrims performing umrah this Easter than previous years. While thousands of South African mutamireen were seen flocking to the Holy Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform their umrah during April in previous years, South African Travel Haj and Umrah Association (SATHOA) chairperson Sedick[…]
Umrah pilgrims were left outraged when charges were withdrawn against Gaironiesa Foundation founder Shahied Stakala when he appeared before the Mitchell’s Plain magistrate’s court on Friday. The mu’tamireen hopelessly witnessed as the court withdrew all charges of fraud and theft under false pretences against Stakala. Apart from having his charges[…]
VOC once again received calls from a few mu’tamireen and their families who frantically shared their concerns after not receiving any update on their travel arrangements a day before they were expected to depart on umrah. According to a relative of a respective mu’tamireen, who wished to remain anonymous, the[…]
With the beginning of the first umrah season in the new year, a large influx of mu’tamireen has resulted in the Saudi Embassy imposing a quota of 150 visas per company per day. Local mu’tamireen alerted VOC News of setbacks with their visas this week. South African Travel and Hajj[…]
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