More than 300 luxury buses carrying Umrah passengers left from Dammam, Al-Khobar, Jubail, Ras Tanura, Khafji and Qatif on Wednesday for Makkah. Muslims in the province prefer to perform Umrah and pray at the Prophet's Mosque in early Ramadan as the holy places will become crowded as the fasting month progresses. These buses normally start at 3.30 P.M. on Wednesday and return early Saturday morning. Umrah tour operators in the Eastern Province are vying with each other to attract pilgrims although they have increased the package rates during Ramadan from SR90 to SR160 per passenger from Dammam and surrounding areas. According to one of the leading Umrah tour operators, the rates for Umrah packages have doubled due to increased demand during the holy month of Ramadan. Umrah travel group offices are having a busy time these days, with bookings being made round-the-clock over telephone. Tour operators foresee a rush of pilgrims from the Eastern Province in the coming days and as such, luxury coach owners are pressing for an increase in their charges. An official at Al-Fatheh Umrah Package and Tours told Saudi Gazette that the rates have increased due to high demand for rooms and the limited availability of accommodation in Makkah and Madina. “We are arranging for daily trips to Makkah and Madina at SR160 per person, but pilgrims have to make their own arrangements for food,” he said. Some tour operators provide five-day packages to Makkah and Madina, including travel and accommodation. The package normally costs SR400-SR500. The offer includes a two-day stay in Madina and three-day lodging in Makkah. The journey begins on Mondays and ends on Fridays. SAPTCO is also operating a special Umrah trip to Makkah on a daily basis, with buses leaving from Dammam at 11 P.M. The special round-trip fare is SR200. Pilgrims can return from Makkah at any time, as there is no time limit during Ramadan. Meanwhile, various Islamic and cultural centers and dawah groups are planning to organize concessional trips to Makkah on a charity basis. An organizer for such a trip said a fleet of luxury coaches would leave from Dammam every weekend and preference would be given to recent converts to Islam.
