Qatar pilgrims hit by ban on Umrah in private cars
People travelling by road to Saudi Arabia for Umrah are now required to go with an authorised tour operator (Muqawil) in their buses, the Peninsula newspaper reported.
Several expatriates here who left for Umrah in their cars without knowing about the new rule were turned away at the Abu Samra border post over the past few days, the Peninsula quoted sources as saying.
The Umrah season has started in Saudi Arabia and will continue until the end of Ramadan, which falls in summer.
Many people, especially expats in Qatar and other GCC countries, preferred to go for the pilgrimage in private cars, due to lower expenses and the convenience it offers while travelling with families.
Many pilgrims also take the opportunity to visit friends and relatives staying elsewhere in Saudi Arabia, which will not be possible with the new rule.
The new decision will apparently lead to a surge in bookings with the authorised tour operators and a possible increase in the tariffs, say industry sources.
"People intending to go for Umrah now have two options — they can go by air or by bus. In both cases, they need to make the arrangements through a tour operator," said a source.
Most tour operators conducting Umrah trips by road charge QR900 per person including accommodation and transport, but this may go up with an expected increase in demand, he added.
Representative of a community organisation that conducts Umrah trips for expatriates in collaboration with an authorised tour operator said they have got several new enquiries over the past one week from people who had originally planned to go in their cars.
"We are conducting Umrah trips this month coinciding with the Indian school holidays. All our seats are full and we are not in a position to accommodate new people," he said.
An Arab expatriate said he was planning to go for Umrah in his car but changed his mind when he knew about the new rule from the tour operators about a week ago.
"I have got the visa and now I am planning to go by air," he told this daily last evening. [Image: Flickr]
Assalalm-o-Alaikum,
I was turned back from Saudi border on 4th April too
and then i went to my home country for 2 weeks.
until now i am so sad.
pray for all Umra lovers by own car......
Assalalm-o-Alaikum,
I was wondering whether they are refusing everyone OR people with certain 'Visa Category' that is applicable for on-arrival visa are allowed in private car, likewise in transit visa cases.
Any information on this query will be greatly appreciated.
Rehan
Let all of us prey.....Inshallah shall open soon,,,aameen
My friend has his family turned back at the Saudi border. They were traveling to perform Umrah in their private vehicle! So, this probably is true!
All r requested to prey for reversing the decision.
That Allah house.,,, inshallah v shall have opptnty soon. Aameen
When Muslims find a job in the Middle East they long for an opportunity to visit Makkah and Medinah due to the ease in travelling and especially the low cost of travel. One way of reaching these holy places was by road using one's own vehicle. Now that facility has been withdrawn. The only reason that appears behind this decision is allow people to make money. The decision is indeed very sad.
Me too, i called also the embassy and they told me it is not allowed to use private car even though my visa is issued before this decision.
I hope Allah punish these lawmakers if they have made this decision out of some greed in the favor of tour operators
News of ban is confirmed , many cars were returned back from border bu samra!!ppl disappointly have to go back !
New procedure for umrah visa is :
1. Minimum 3 days hotel booking
2. Return air ticket
3. Charges for umrah visa
4. All this via agent is easier !!
Anyone wants to go UAE or bahrain can apply for transit visa which includes max 3 days validity in saudi !! By road this is applicable still if no other law pop out !
I checked with Saudi Embassy and they said.....yes, no private car....
Ya Allah hidaya.......Inshallah soon all will b ok.aameen
Any confirmation from Saudi Embassy,,,,,,,,,,
This is Allah home,,,, Inshallah we shall not be deprived of it....
Ya Allah Help us......
Really sad..........
i was planning with my family.......Now i am forced to delay / hold...
Ya Allah hidaya to blockers.....
I just came back from umrah recently on 7th march and went on 3rd march by road from doha ...alhumdulilla there were no restrictions till then !! Ban news is really upsetting :(
Its really very very sad holly place visits should not be blocked like this...
Is it sure they dont allow a family using private car having visa before this new(which till now i did not hear tyat they turned back a family from saudi boarder).any one knows a famioy they returned them back? @aslam are you sure they banned even the visa now? any official site mentioning that, or just talk between people or on social mefias?
Really very sad...visit visa umra banned...now private car banned...BAN goes on...
Has anyone checked with the Saudi embassy?
Really very sad & disappointing..........just the day i wanted to apply for Umra visa, the tour operator told me it's banned from today, how sad was that for me, my collegues left two days back, then this St_pd rule came......
They should understand families will face difficulty in travelling by bus especially with small children, also very expensive by Air :-( disgusting !!
I can think of many reasons to ban it especially excessive rush of traffic, major fatal accidents (due to drowsiness or speed) are the major ones. Yes there is price for everything but depends on what we are trading it for. I was so prepared to go for umrah with my family and spent so much on my car and now the sad news. However, I remember many families who lost their loved ones in fatal accident one of them was my classmates 18yrs ago. I hope KSA had discussed with wise advisers prior to implementing the ban. Most importantly, lets hope it works out for our best interest. Whatever happens - happens for the best; and Allah knows the best.
Gift of new Saudi king to the tour operators.
(any good news was expected the least)
This is really Sad situation, honestly why this rule is required? Are those people who introduced this new rules enjoying the suffering of Poor people?
Or are they are the owners of Tour Operator buses.
My 5 passports stamped for Umra Visa on March 02 with the news that i cant travel by own car. So i lost my 1500 QR, bc i cant afford By Air or have not enough days for bus. They never think about the common public. KSA must give the at least 1 month time limit for ban.
how about road trips to Dubai via Abu Samra border...any changes in rules there? I am due to travel to drive to Dubai this month end.
There is only one article on peninsula being quoted everywhere, not even the text has been changed. Is there anyone who can share his own experience? Has anyone checked with Saudi Embassy?
@zaq08, please try and let us know if it works...
I believe, I shouldn't be stopped when trying to go there by horse or camel...
the prohibition only applies to car, if I'm not wrong... :-(
One more sad news about Umrah. Even the people who are on visit not eligible to get Umrah Visa as the same is banned by Saudi ambassy.
Such sad news, a road trip on Umrah was the only opportunity for middle income workers to reach the holy cities and perform an Umrah, but now that is only going to remain a dream.