Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH – Around 22,000 Umrah performers have departed the Kingdom on a daily basis since the third day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, according to the director of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, an Arabic daily reported. The same number of Umrah performers is estimated to leave the Kingdom over the next few days daily until the middle of Shawwal (Aug. 22nd), when all Umrah performers will have left the Kingdom, said Abdul Hamid Abu Al-Aree. Meanwhile, economic experts estimated that by the time the Grand Mosque's expansion projects have been completed, Umrah income will hit SR300 billion a year because the mosque will be able to accommodate 30 million pilgrims over the course of the pilgrimage season. Ahmad Bafaqeeh, deputy director of Shaer Company for Development and Tourism, said each Umrah performer will have to pay SR10,000 for their Umrah package. Currently, it costs an Umrah performer this amount to stay five days in Makkah and another five in Madinah, with living expenses and food covered. This income will bring a lot of benefits to different sectors such as hotels, restaurants, malls, and transportation, all of which are important parts of the Saudi economy, Bafaqeeh noted. The upcoming period following the completion of expansion projects in the Grand Mosque will be very vital to the Saudi economy, he said, adding this phase requires a lot of planning on the part of Umrah companies. Ali Naqoor, who owns Al-Naqoor Global Investment Group, said currently Umrah income is around SR62 billion, but this figure will multiply during the next four years. Saad Al-Qurashi, member of the national committee of Haj and Umrah at the Saudi Council of Chambers, said Makkah hotels and the buildings specified for Umrah accommodation can accommodate 30 million Umrah performers a year.
