The initial phase of performing Umrah with precautionary measures due to corona virus will be started through the 'Etemarna' app.
Dr. Omar Al-Madah, Chief Planning and Strategy Officer of the Ministry of Hajj, Saudi Arabia, says that the new Umrah app 'Etemarna' introduced by the authorities will not only create a competitive environment in business but also make the pilgrimage experience pleasant. ۔ '
"When companies provide quality services at low prices and work hard to provide better services to local visitors, visitors are attracted to them," he said.
"External agents who used to control everything related to Umrah will no longer be able to do so," he said.
He said that the job of the agents is only to represent the Umrah companies and market them outside the country.
He said that steps have been taken to solve this problem and now the relationship between Umrah companies and their external agents will be limited to marketing only.
It is to be noted that in the phased Umrah initiated by the Saudi government, initially 6,000 people are being allowed to perform Umrah at different times on a daily basis.
One thousand pilgrims will be given a chance for each group and thus 6 groups will be arranged daily through a special app.
Saudi Arabia has allowed Saudi nationals and expatriates to perform Umrah and pilgrimage since October 4.
According to the Saudi Interior Ministry, Umrah will be restored in stages. In the first phase, 6,000 citizens and residents of the country will be allowed to perform Umrah from October 4. The second phase will start on October 18 and the third phase on November 1.
From November 1, pilgrims from abroad will be allowed to perform Umrah, at which time the number will be increased to 20,000 on a daily basis, while 60,000 people will be allowed to offer prayers in the Masjid al-Haram.
The Saudi Interior Ministry says that in the fourth phase, Umrah, pilgrimage and prayers will be allowed 100 percent, this permission will be given when the relevant authorities decide to eliminate the threat of the epidemic.
