Faizel Patel – 09/03/2021

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has approved a range of initiatives aimed at assisting firms and individuals operating in support of Hajj.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reports the initiatives are aimed at mitigating the financial and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic across the sector that provides support for the hajj and umrah.

According to SPA, the concessions include exempting accommodation facilities from the annual fees for municipal commercial activities’ licenses in the cities of Makkah and Medina and facilities working in the sector will also be exempted from working expatriates’ fees for six months.

SPA also reports that bus licenses operating in facilities transporting pilgrims will remain valid without charge for a year, and the collection of customs duties for new buses will be postponed for the upcoming haj season for three months.