Umrah package prices soar, tour operators double rates amid Ramadan rush
- Umrah Pilgrims stood shoulder-to-shoulder in spiritual scenes after the end of social distancing measures for prayers and tawaf
- Makkah Grand Mosque receives worshippers at full capacity post lifting of COVID-19 restrictions
RIYADH: Umrah travel operators in Saudi Arabia and world wide Umrah Agencies have doubled the price of the pilgrim’s tour package from the regular price each person, and this will triple in anticipation of a heavy rush during the Ramadan season 2022.
This will further increase to SR 350 to 400 during the Qiyam Al-Layl, the last ten days of the holy month, said Umrah tour operators in the Saudi capital.
“The huge Umrah rush was due to the holy month of Ramadan since most of the people want to spend these days in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah,
“The increase in the package prices is due to the rush of Umrah pilgrims during Ramadan 2022 , . They also cited an increase in VAT to 15 percent as one of the reasons for soaring prices this year and there would be possibility to Continue like this for the Upcoming Umrah 2023 Packages.
Umrah package prices Hike every year during the month of Ramadan. Before coronavirus pandemic, it used to increase up to SR250 to SAR 300 till 2019. In 2020 and 2021, the rush was limited due to the COVID-19 restrictions, but with things back to normal this year the Umrah package prices soared up to SR400 due to the rush of Umrah pilgrims.
Over 3 million Saudi nationals and 3.4 million non-Saudis performed Umrah in 2021.
Umrah pilgrims and Worshipers, returned to the courtyards of the Grand Mosque in Makkah in full capacity last month after Saudi authorities announced the lifting of COVID-19 precautionary measures and the return to normalcy in the Kingdom.
The General Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has reactivated its operational plans for full-capacity worship, with its field teams removing social distancing stickers.
Pilgrims stood shoulder-to-shoulder in spiritual scenes after the end of social distancing measures for prayers and tawaf.
All These preparations by the General Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque came ahead of the holy month of Ramadan in 2022.
The weekend packages for trips to Makkah and Madinah start at 4 p.m; from Riyadh on Thursday and finish at midnight on Saturday, he said.
He added that each family is given a large room, while single men must share a room with three other pilgrims.
There are about 100 Umrah travel operators spread throughout the capital, with a concentration of them in Hai Al-Wizarat and Batha districts.
During the journey, coaches stop at three points for Maghreb prayers, Isha prayers, and for dinner. Pilgrims change into their ihram at Meeqat in Taif, where they are given half an hour to don their ihrams at the Meeqat point, and they can perform Fajr prayers in the holy city of Makkah.
There are ample mosques, food outlets and boutiques along the routes from Riyadh to Makkah.
Flights from India to Jeddah are also filling up. According to a leading airline ticketing company , air ticket prices for Umrah also spiked and ranged between SAR 2400 to SAR 3000.
There are comparatively cheaper tickets for odd timings, but they too will total around SAR1,800, operators said.