Ministry of Hajj and Umrah applies comprehensive health insurance for pilgrims

The Hajj ministry has implemented a comprehensive health insurance program for pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom during Hajj 2022. (Basheer Saleh)
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Updated 10 July 2022
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Ministry of Hajj and Umrah applies comprehensive health insurance for pilgrims

  • The program includes transporting the bodies of the deceased to their countries if their relatives so desire
  • Also covers personal accidents that result in death or permanent total disability as a result of an accident

MAKKAH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has implemented a comprehensive health insurance program for pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom during the Hajj season for the current year 2022. 

This is part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to enhance the experience of pilgrims and Umrah pilgrims and enable them to perform their rituals in peace and comfort.

The program is overseen by the Saudi Central Bank, “SAMA,” and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to enhance pilgrims’ experience while they are in the Kingdom by easing any financial burdens that may be incurred as a result of their exposure to any risk, within the advantages and limits of insurance policy coverage.

The program includes transporting the bodies of the deceased to their countries if their relatives so desire, and covers personal accidents that result in death or permanent total disability as a result of an accident. 

In addition to covering cases of COVID-19 infection by paying for institutional quarantine and treatment costs, the program also provides compensation in cases of flight cancelations or delays leaving the Kingdom.




The Hajj ministry has implemented a comprehensive health insurance program for pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom during Hajj 2022. (Basheer Saleh) 

Pilgrims can perform their rituals comfortably and easily while returning to their country in good health and safety as the program can find options that guarantee quick treatments.

The mechanism of the program relies on the collection of fees for each visa in exchange for full insurance, effective for 75 days after the pilgrim enters the Kingdom.

All local insurance companies provide the program under the direction of the Tawuniya Insurance Company.

Additionally, pilgrims can make a claim by dialing 800440008 or submitting their application online at www.enaya-ksa.com.

The Saudi Health Ministry earlier announced that they have provided nine hospitals for pilgrims, including a field hospital and a mobile one, more than 1,000 beds, 210 ICU beds, more than 175 beds for stroke-affected patients, 75 isolation rooms, 93 health centers at the sacred sites, as well as medical services for emergency and dangerous diseases, including heart diseases, to transfer patients to specialized hospitals inside Makkah.

Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel on Friday said that the health status of pilgrims was reassuring, stressing that health services are provided at full capacity in this Hajj season, the biggest pilgrimage since the coronavirus pandemic forced drastic cuts in numbers for two years in a row.


Over 4.8m captagon pills found hidden in Jeddah charcoal shipment

Updated 09 January 2026
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Over 4.8m captagon pills found hidden in Jeddah charcoal shipment

  • Captagon is an addictive, amphetamine-type stimulant that is mass-produced in illicit factories

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority foiled an attempt to smuggle more than 4.8 million captagon pills through Jeddah’s port, hidden inside a shipment of charcoal.

The authority’s spokesperson Hamoud Al-Harbi said that a shipment arrived at the port, which, after being assessed by customs authorities, was found to contain a large amount of the illicit drug, hidden inside charcoal bags, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

After the pills were seized, the authority coordinated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control to ensure that the intended recipients were arrested.

Al-Harbi added that ZATCA is working to tighten customs control on Saudi imports and exports and stands ready to combat smuggling.

He called on members of the public to contribute to the fight against smuggling.

ZATCA may be contacted for security reports by phone from inside the Kingdom at 1910, outside the Kingdom at +9661910, or by email at [email protected].

The authority receives reports related to smuggling crimes and violations of the customs system in complete confidentiality and offers financial rewards to any reports that are accurate.

Captagon is an addictive, amphetamine-type stimulant that is mass-produced in illicit factories.

It is simple to produce compared to other narcotics, and drug smugglers have found a market for the substance in the Gulf states.

Syria under Bashar Assad was one of the largest producers of captagon in the region.

When his government was overthrown in December 2024, one of the first steps taken by the new President Ahmed Al-Sharaa was to crack down on the production of captagon in Syria.