Saudi Arabia supports the facilities of the Hajj and Umrah sector with 6 new incentive initiatives

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz on Tuesday approved a number of incentive initiatives for establishments operating in the Hajj and Umrah sector, with the aim of mitigating the financial and economic impacts of the Corona pandemic on the sector.

The Saudi Press Agency stated that the 6 initiatives extend from the Kingdom’s efforts to confront the financial impacts on the sectors operating in the field of Hajj and Umrah and the economic activities most affected by the epidemic.

The following are the six initiatives approved by the Saudi monarch, according to the Saudi Press Agency statement:

1. Exemption of accommodation facilities from the annual fees for licenses for municipal commercial activities for a period of one year in the cities of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Madinah.
2. Exempting the establishments of the Hajj and Umrah sector from the fees for expatriates working for a period of 6 months.
3. Renewal of licenses of the Ministry of Tourism for a period of one year free of charge for accommodation facilities in the cities of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, which can be extended.
4. Postponing the collection of residency renewal fees for expatriates working in activities related to the Hajj and Umrah sector for a period of 6 months, provided that the amounts are paid in installments over a year.
5. Extending the validity of licenses to operate buses operating in facilities that transport pilgrims, free of charge, for a period of one year.
6. Postponing the collection of customs duties for new buses for the 2021 Hajj season, for a period of 3 months, and paying them in installments over a period of 4 months, starting from the due date.

Since the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, Saudi Arabia has launched many initiatives to support the private sector, investors and individuals, whose allocations have exceeded 180 billion riyals, or about $ 47.9 billion.