Saudi Arabia Introduces Mandatory Meal Fee for Umrah Pilgrims from Four Countries

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new regulation requiring Umrah pilgrims from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Egypt to pay a mandatory daily meal fee as part of their visa application.

Under the new policy, pilgrims will be required to pay approximately 20 Saudi riyals per day for meals. The fee will be added to the cost of the Umrah visa and will take effect from 1 Rabi' al-Awwal.

As part of the new system, accommodation, transportation, and meal services for Umrah pilgrims will be managed through a dedicated mobile application. Around 10,000 restaurants in Makkah and Madinah have been integrated into the platform.

Pilgrims will receive a unique code along with their visa, which they can present at participating restaurants and food outlets to receive their meals.

Saudi authorities introduced the initiative to ensure better-quality meals for Umrah pilgrims and to improve service standards while reducing irregularities in food arrangements.

The new requirement is expected to slightly increase the overall cost of performing Umrah for Bangladeshi pilgrims. In response, travel agencies in Bangladesh are preparing revised Umrah packages to reflect the additional expense and the updated service arrangements.