As Saudi officials tighten regulations to control pilgrim travel, Umrah operators in the United Arab Emirates are advising pilgrims to reserve their transportation and lodging in advance when applying for visas.
The reminder, according to aggregators, coincides with tighter security checks at the airports in Jeddah and Madinah, where authorities are making sure pilgrims arrive with valid lodging reservations, an Umrah visa, and a licensed vehicle.
Saudi Arabia's continuous effort to stop unlicensed cab services operating near airports and pilgrimage routes has been connected by authorities to these regulations. Only paid taxis reserved via the official website or Haramain Express high-speed train tickets are recognized as legitimate modes of transportation.
