King Salman approves support package for Hajj, Umrah companies impacted by COVID-19

King Salman has approved an aid package for Hajj and Umrah companies that have been financially impacted by the suspension of pilgrimages due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The aid package, approved through a royal order issued on Monday, includes a list of initiatives that the government has approved to mitigate the negative economic impacts on companies due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The initiatives include the following:

1. Exemption of the annual fee for municipal commercial activity licenses for accommodation facilities for one year in Makkah and Madinah.
2. Exemption of the fee for expatriates working in these firms for six months.
3. Renewal of the Ministry of Tourism licenses for one year free of charge for accommodation facilities in Makkah and Madinah, which can be extended.
4. Postponement of the fee collection for the renewal of residency permit (iqama) for expatriates working in this sector for six months, with the condition that the amounts are to be paid in installments within a year.
5. Extension of the validity of licenses (Istimara) of buses operated by establishments to transport pilgrims without charge for one year.
6. Postponement of the collection of customs duties for new buses for the Haj season of 2021 for three months and paying them in installments over four months starting from the due date.