Shawdesh desk: To facilitate travel of Haj pilgrims, Saudi Arabia has launched a consolidated national visa application platform named KSA Visa. It’s a system that integrates more than 30 ministries, authorities, and private-sector entities.

The objective of the system is to simplify the visa application process for a range of purposes, including Hajj, Umrah, tourism, business visits, and employment. This effort comes in the wake of the recent visit to India by Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfig bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah. It is expected to especially facilitate the approximately 20 lakh Indian Hajj pilgrims this year. Using cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), KSA Visa assists users in identifying available visas. The centralised smart search engine offers comprehensive guidance on visa requirements and application procedures. The platform was officially launched at the digital government forum in Riyadh. This move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious goal to attract more tourists, aiming for 150 million visits annually by 2030. In 2023 alone, the country issued over 18.6 million visas, with the processing time for digital visas reduced to just 60 seconds.

Saudi Arabia is also developing a system custom-designed to enhance convenience for Indian pilgrims, with a particular focus on women embarking on solo Umrah journeys. The forthcoming initiatives involve extending the Umrah visa validity to 90 days and implementing a four-day transit visa, addressing the increasing influx of Indian pilgrims.  The focus on promoting gender equality and creating a safer, more inclusive environment is expected to enhance the overall pilgrimage experience for all travellers, as emphasised by Minister Al-Rabiah. He anticipates a surge in the number of Indian Umrah pilgrims, which will further contribute to the impactful initiatives designed to enrich the pilgrim experience.

Looking ahead to the Hajj season in 2024, Saudi Arabia has set an estimated quota of 175,025 slots for Indian pilgrims, which highlight the country’s commitment to facilitating and enhancing the pilgrimage experience for individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Hajj, a sacred pilgrimage in Islam, draws millions of Muslims annually to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, mandatory for all capable Muslims to undertake at least once in their lifetime.

Photo courtesy: Canva 

The pilgrimage holds immense spiritual significance among Muslims worldwide as they gather to worship and seek forgiveness during this sacred journey in the heart of Islam.