RIYADH: The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority has prepared the technical infrastructure to ease entry procedures for Umrah visitors following the announcement that Umrah visas will be issued after Hajj.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has started issuing Umrah visas, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The new Umrah season will coincide with the start of the new Islamic year on Muharram 1, and the move aims to streamline the arrival of pilgrims and ensure a smooth and worry-free experience.
The ministry is working diligently to implement the directives of the Saudi leadership and accommodate more Umrah pilgrims, providing services that meet their needs.
As SDAIA works to facilitate the entry procedures for Umrah performers into the Kingdom, this comes in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and relevant government entities across all air, sea, and land entry points in the Kingdom, which are now preparing for the arrival of Umrah performers from around the world.
SDAIA is present at the entry points of Makkah, Madinah, the Eastern Region, Tabuk, Al-Jouf, the Northern Borders, Najran, and Jeddah Islamic Port. It has equipped these entry points with primary and backup communication circuits.
These are operated by SDAIA’s national experts, specialising in computing and necessary technical devices.
Moreover, SDAIA provides round-the-clock technical and logistical support, carries out preventive maintenance for data rooms, network devices, and workstations, and activates the traveller system, which helps expedite the transfer of Umrah performers’ data to streamline their entry procedures.
SDAIA has also installed biometric capture and registration stations at entry points, configuring and programming the devices. Additionally, it has prepared mobile kits equipped with biometric registration devices and provided backup systems to ensure uninterrupted operations at entry points, facilitating the year-round entry of Umrah performers.
SDAIA is committed to advancing secure digital services and intelligent solutions, particularly for government entities serving visitors to the Two Holy Mosques during the Umrah season. This initiative is part of SDAIA’s broader mandate to utilize data and AI to improve services at these sacred sites.
