Tag Archives: Umrah

As part of the wide efforts the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah work on to enhance the services for pilgrims, the Ministry launched the Direct Hajj Initiative through the “Nusuk Hajj” platform, the official platform licensed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which aims to raise the level of services provided to the visitors of the two holy cities through packages designed specifically for pilgrims via a limited number of approved service providers. In continuation of these efforts and in view of the wide geographical area targeted by the initiative, which covers 126 countries around the world during the Hajj season 1445 AH, and to provide flight services that suit the aspirations of pilgrims, Almosafer, the leading travel company in the Kingdom (part of Seera Group), has become the official flight partner of the Direct Hajj Initiative to provide a set of travel services designed specifically to provide a seamless booking experience for Hajj trips. The new partnership between Almosafer and Nusuk Hajj Platform will enhance the pilgrims’ experience in each of the countries served by the platform, which includes countries in the continents of Europe, the Americas, Australia, and select countries in the continents of Asia and Africa. This cooperation represents an important milestone in paving the way to provide reliable and comfortable travel options among the many additional services that Nusk Hajj platform will provide to enrich the experience of the pilgrims. This comes after the Ministry launched the new Hajj platform during the speech of His Excellency Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah, at LEAP conference in Riyadh. Almosafer was chosen as the official flight partner due to its exceptional technical capabilities, its geographical …

Saudi Arabian Airlines intends to buy around 100 aircraft to operate flying taxis between King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and hotels in Makkah. The Saudi national carrier is making preparations to use air taxis as a new mode of transportation during the Hajj season, according to Abdullah Al-Shahrani, director of corporate communications and spokesman of the Saudia Group. He said that the Saudia Group has contracted the purchase of 100 Lilium jets, German electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, to shuttle between the Jeddah airport and airstrips in Makkah hotels near the Grand Mosque and other holy places. “The electric plane Lilium is one of the first aircraft that operates entirely on electric power. The news is according to the Saudi Gazette. “After completing the necessary arrangements, these planes will fly with the guests of God during Hajj and Umrah seasons from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to the airstrips in hotels near the Grand Mosque in Makkah,” he told Al-Arabiya. Al-Shahrani noted that flying taxi can transport four to six passengers. “The Lilium aircraft is characterized by a low rate of carbon emissions and is an environmentally friendly aircraft, which makes it one of the possibilities for sustaining air travel and shortening the time of flights, as it covers a maximum distance of 250 km. “Through purchasing nearly 100 aircraft, Saudi Airlines intends to launch an advanced service to connect a number of travel destinations via this advanced electric aircraft, and will support it with air routes between the main airports from where Saudia operates,” he said while pointing out that this is a special service for its guests. He said that the aircraft also features …

SAUDIA Group announced that its performance reports, following the Hajj Season 2023, show distinguished operating rates during the peak of the summer travel season from May 21st to August 2nd, 2023. SAUDIA Group’s performance during this period peaked as the airline allocated more than 1.2 million seats for Hajj pilgrims, while operating 79,000 flights. SAUDIA’s fleet flew an average of half a million hours, while recording an on-time-performance rate of 83.8%. Meanwhile, 1,768 pilots and assistant pilots have also contributed to SAUDIA’s success by managing the flights efficiently, while the guest cabin crew worked at full capacity during the season, with a total of 6,063 crewmembers, who speak more than 42 languages, working during the summer months. The Hajj season also saw the mobilization of the Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) which operated at full capacity with its automated capabilities and qualified cadres to ensure the provision of the best services. SAEI dedicated a specialized team to support during Hajj season which included the allocation of 112 maintenance stations which were operated by 1,154 technicians. In addition, SAEI supplied SAUDIA with 3,896 different types of aircraft parts while the time spent on maintenance amounted to 50,700 hours. SAEI has obtained many international licenses and certificates from the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the US Federal Aviation Authority, the European Organization for Aviation Safety, among others. Moreover, SAEI obtained licenses approved by manufacturers which allow the company to manufacture aircraft spare parts in a limited capacity. The Saudi Airlines Catering Company (SACC) has also played a major role during the Hajj season, as they provided best-in class production of meals that comply with the best international standards. SACC also provided comprehensive …

Hajj and Umrah tour operator Mawasim, part of Almosafer – Seera Group’s travel platform, has recorded strong growth in Umrah bookings, with its new offices in Indonesia and Pakistan driving significant growth in pilgrim arrivals. The two countries are also the top international markets for Umrah bookings for Mawasim in 2022. Unveiling the new trends in Umrah travel at the 2023 Conference & Exhibition for Hajj and Umrah Services (Hajj Expo), the largest conference and exhibition for Hajj and Umrah services, Mawasim forecast exceptional growth for the coming year, with pilgrim arrivals from focus markets including Egypt, Algeria, India, Turkey, Malaysia, Iraq and Jordan, in addition to Indonesia and Pakistan. At Hajj Expo, organised by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Mawasim is showcasing its competencies and proven track record in delivering seamless Umrah services for pilgrims from around the world. The company reported strong growth in the last two quarters of 2022, despite the late start of Umrah, welcoming nearly 31,000 pilgrims from 43 countries and working with over 214 agents. Pilgrims accounted for a total of 81,730 room nights across 114 hotels with the largest number of bookings coming from Pakistan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Singapore and Egypt. With travel restrictions limiting Umrah arrivals from inbound markets during the pandemic, pilgrims have returned to make the most of their spiritual trips to Makkah and Madinah with group trips averaging 8 days and 40 passengers per booking. The increase in Umrah travel follows recent reforms in Saudi Arabia permitting visitors to perform Umrah on any visa, in addition to general visa policies that have eased access to the Kingdom with residents of the GCC now being able to obtain a visa …

Saudi joined Umrah+ Connect, a leading B2B platform dedicated to the Umrah travel market to share Saudi’s Umrah offering with UK and European trade partners. Taking place during the World Travel Market, where Saudi is this year’s Premier Partner, Umrah+ Connect brings together leading DMC’s, airlines, hoteliers, and Umrah companies. Following the success of last year’s first major B2B Umrah event in London, Umrah+ Connect took place in association with Nusuk, Saudi’s first official integrated digital platform that offers pilgrims and visitors an easy-to-use planning gateway for their journeys to Makkah and Madinah, and beyond. This comes off the back of the recent global launch of Nusuk by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Nusuk is an initiative of the Vision 2030 Pilgrim Experience Program which has seen roadshows taking place in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Egypt and Indonesia. Nusuk will expand the range of choice and enhance the overall experience for Muslims visiting Saudi and enable simpler arrival procedures for visitors to perform Umrah. Nusuk will also offer a new range of services including facilitating visas, permits, booking processes and procedures, along with special packages for Makkah, Madinah and beyond. His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Chairman of the Committee for the Pilgrim Experience Program, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, said, “The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah continues its efforts in cooperation and collaboration with government entities in Saudi Arabia to serve the pilgrims of Makkah and Madinah through Nusuk. We are using the most advanced technology to enrich the spiritual experience of the pilgrim and visitor. Nusuk’s sponsorship of this event is a symbol of our commitment to bringing Nusuk to our partners and to the tens of millions Muslims …

SAUDIA Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to collaborate on the development of products and services that will benefit and cater to guests coming to the Kingdom to perform Pilgrimage. The collaboration will encompass multiple of initiatives under four main tracks which are Digital Development and Integration, Training, Communication Awareness, and Measuring Satisfaction. The agreement was signed by His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rubaieh, and His Excellency the Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar. The signing ceremony was held during the first day of the Hajj and Umrah conference and exhibition in Jeddah. This agreement will lead to the development of the specialized online platform (www.umrahbysaudia.com) for marketing Umrah products and issuing electronic visas (eVisa). It will also enable the airline to host more guests from different countries by integrating the platform with the “Eatmarna” application for easier Umrah bookings. Areas of cooperation also include coordination with the Ministry to improve the performance of the Hajj pilgrim’s movement during the pilgrimage, coordination with organizations that campaign for Hajj education, as well as preparing a procedural guide for pilgrims. Other initiatives will focus on measuring the satisfaction of guests and building awareness programs for Pilgrims on board by establishing a “Hajj and Umrah” channel in the in-flight entertainment system. The signing of the memorandum between the two entities showcases SAUDIA’s disposition to stay aligned with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah plans of increasing the number of pilgrims through projects that are currently being implemented, such as adding new international destinations the Airline’s network and offering more flights and increasing seat capacity. …

Emirates will be operating 24 extra flights to Jeddah during the busy Umrah season, adding more than 10,000 additional seats between Dubai and Jeddah from June 12-24. The additional flights will be serviced by the Boeing 777-300ER. Emirates’ additional flights will help accommodate more convenient travel through Dubai during the Umrah season, which starts in Ramadan and concludes in July. These services will run in parallel with Emirates’ regularly scheduled services to Jeddah, which includes three daily flights. The additional services can be accessed by travellers holding a valid Umrah visa. Adil Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations for Gulf, Middle East and Iran said, “Performing Umrah during the month of Ramadan is a significant experience for Muslims and Emirates is helping to make the journey more seamless through convenient connections for the thousands of pilgrims looking to travel during this time. We thank the Saudi Arabian government and authorities for their support to introduce these extra frequencies during Umrah season.” Onboard, Emirates’ award-winning ice system features special religious programming as well as popular regional entertainment options including new drama series. The airline’s diverse content available on board with up to 3,500 channels of entertainment includes 238 Arabic channels featuring movies, TV, music and audio. This year, top destinations where Emirates is expecting Umrah travellers to come from are Pakistan, North Africa, the United States, the UK and South Africa.