Syria Cancels Fines for Umrah Pilgrims Who Stayed Too Long in Saudi Arabia

LONDON: Syrian pilgrims who overstayed their authorised stay in Saudi Arabia will be exempt from penalty fines if they register within a week for procedures to help them return home, the Syrian Arab Republic’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The decision by the Consular Affairs Directorate of the ministry relates to fines issued under Article 35 of Syria’s Residency Law in cases from Aug. 9, 2021 until Oct. 15 this year, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency stated.

The directorate added that the decision was part of the ongoing cooperation between Syria and Saudi Arabia. In a message posted on his Facebook page on Thursday, the chairman of the directorate, Mohammed Yaqoub Al-Omar, called for eligible Syrians to contact authorities to regularise their status and organise a return home.

They have to register within a week of the announcement, and their names would be put forth to the Saudi authorities to help ease departure, he said. Eligible pilgrims have a week to register for the processes needed to return home. The names of registered people will be handed over to the Saudi authorities to facilitate exit.

He said eligible citizens should contact any appropriate agency within a week of the notice’s publication to register their names on lists to be presented to the relevant Saudi authorities, paving the way for procedures to ease their departure from the Kingdom.

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