A rather sudden development has come up in Saudi Arabia where the visa fee has unexpectedly gone up by approximately six times. As a direct effect of this, Hajj pilgrimage has become a very costly affair overnight. According to sources, this has not gone down well with many Muslim countries.
Earlier, the cost for a single entry visa was $93 (approximately ₹ 6,500), which is now reported to be $533 (₹ 38,000). The price for a six-month visa has been increased to around $800 (₹ 57,000) and a one-year visa would cost $1333 (approximately ₹ 94,500).
While business travellers and tourists are likely to suffer too, the move will affect millions of pilgrims who visit the country every year for the sacred journey to Mecca and Madina. This move came in as a recommendation from Saudi Ministries of Finance and Economy.
It was brought into effect on October 2, which also happened to be the beginning of the new Islamic year. With significant spending on visitors’ lodging and transportation, the new rules are seemingly part of an extensive campaign that aims at reducing Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil. Increased revenues in other areas, including immigration fees, might soon follow.
A large section of the Muslim community and many Muslim countries are angered by this change of events though no official mission statements are out yet. Only time will unfold the bureaucratic actions that any nation may take to counter or support this decision by the Middle Eastern kingdom.
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