RIYADH — Overstaying Umrah pilgrims should apply for exemption from legal and financial implications of their action before the end of Saturday, March 28, Saudi Press Agency quoted a Ministry of Haj and Umrah statement saying. The ministry has made the necessary arrangements for this and that is in cooperation with the concerned authorities, it said. Applications can be submitted through the ministry's website on the following link: eservices.haj.gov.sa, the statement added. The last arrival of Umrah pilgrims for the current season was on Feb. 27, the day when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to temporarily suspend Umrah pilgrimage from foreign countries as well as visit to the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah as part of precautionary measures to curb the spread of coronavirus. In later phases, Umrah pilgrimage from the Gulf Cooperation Council states as well as from within the Kingdom was also suspended. The government's decision to suspend all international flights effective from March 15 forced all the diplomatic missions and aviation companies to beef up their efforts to send back their pilgrims before the expiry of the deadline. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) allowed grace period to send back some of the pilgrims who were stranded due to the disruption of flight services after the end of the deadline for departure.
