A Saudi official has said that World Cup fans can perform the lesser pilgrimage or umrah in Saudi Arabia if they have Hayya Cards.
Khalid Al Shamiri, assistant director of the Saudi Foreign Ministry's Visas Department, said holders of the same cards can also visit Medina.
For the Hayya Card holders attending the FIFA World Cup in Qatar next month, the Saudi government said it would incur the costs of e-services related to the issuance of a free entry visa to the kingdom.
The visa is free, but the holder must purchase an obligatory medical insurance through the Tasheera platform,” the official told Saudi television Al Ekhbariya.
From November 11, i.e. 10 days before the World Cup kicks off, the visa will be valid for entry into the kingdom.
The visa holder can stay in the kingdom for up to two months, said the official, adding that thousands of Hayya Card fans have applied for the Saudi visa.
