Saudi visa ban for Gulf expats until February

While the Saudi Arabian tourism authority remains mum on the subject of temporarily halting tourist visas to the kingdom during the peak Umrah season, tour operators in the UAE have confirmed that Gulf expatriates will be the only ones affected.

The Abu Dhabi-based Al Ansar Haj and Umrah Travel operators confirmed the news to Emirates24|7, saying the ban will stay until February 2011.

Mohammed Faud, the visa section operator at Al Ansar, said: “If you are not an Emirati, or a Qatari, Bahraini, Kuwaiti or Omani national, you will not be able to obtain a tourist visa to Saudi Arabia, not unless you actually have an invitation from the country, which is also subject to approval.

“The issuance of visas started closing on August 10, right around Sha’ban (the eighth month of the Islamic lunar calendar), as it happens every year to control the number of tourist arrivals in Madinah.”

Ashraf Handi, of the capital’s Al Manar for Haj and Umrah Services tour operator, also confirmed the news, adding: “This temporary block on issuance of new tourist visas should remain in effect until February 2011, unless if we are told otherwise.”

INCREASE IN TOURISTS

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities reported a substantial jump in tourist arrivals last year, from 2008’s 6,000 applicants to 20,000 the following year.

According to media reports, Eisa Rawas, Deputy Minister of Haj for Umrah Affairs, Saudi Arabia, was quoted as saying that visas have been granted to more than four million pilgrims from around the world this year to enter the kingdom in just nine months.

This surge in demand has also resulted in a 200 per cent increase in hotel room prices in some cases during the holy month of Ramadan.

Said Faud: “We offer five-day Umrah packages during Ramadan, so if you are booking yourself for the final five days – September 4 until 9 – a double room for two in the five-star hotel Grand ZamZam will cost you Dh20,000 for two people.

“If you travel after Eid, the room cost will drop to Dh5,000.”

Airfares though have surprisingly remained standard, with Nas Air return flights for the same period starting at Dh2,100, while Emirates is quoting Dh2,380.

But disgruntled travellers such as Indian national Ahmed Owais refuse to be placated. He said: “What is the point of getting affordable airline tickets if we can't be issued visas to enter Saudi? I have been a UAE resident for 30 years and it should count for something.”

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