Continued to bear the visa fees for sacrificial animal workers during Hajj 1447
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet session held today in Jeddah. Among the most prominent decisions issued, the Cabinet announced that the state will continue to bear the cost of the Hajj and sacrificial animal work visa (temporary work visa for Hajj and Umrah services) for seasonal workers in the Hajj and sacrificial animal project for the 1447 AH Hajj season. This decision comes within the framework of the unlimited support provided by the wise leadership to facilitate the Hajj rituals and provide the highest quality services to the pilgrims from across the Islamic world.
Royal care and major facilities to serve the guests of God
At the beginning of the session, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince welcomed the pilgrims whose delegations have begun arriving in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, emphasizing the Kingdom's pride in serving the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors. He directed that all available human and technological resources be mobilized to ensure the success of the organizational, security, and preventative plans adopted for this year's Hajj season, guaranteeing that pilgrims can perform their rituals with ease and tranquility in Makkah, Madinah, and the Holy Sites.
The economic and social dimensions of the decision regarding the Hajj and sacrificial animal workers visa
The Kingdom's project for utilizing sacrificial animals (Hadi and Adahi) represents a crucial organizational and environmental pillar during the Hajj season. The government's continued subsidization of visa fees for Hajj and Adahi workers underscores the Kingdom's commitment to both humanitarian and economic considerations. Historically, this project was established to manage the sacrificial process in a healthy and environmentally sound manner, distributing the meat to those in need both domestically and internationally. Exempting these seasonal workers from fees contributes to reducing the project's operational costs, which positively impacts the prices of sacrificial animals and protects pilgrims and beneficiaries from unjustified price hikes. Furthermore, it enhances the operational efficiency of slaughterhouses and abattoirs in the Holy Sites.
Development decisions and international agreements to enhance the Kingdom's standing
The Cabinet session was not limited to organizational matters related to Hajj, but also included a package of important international decisions and agreements. The Council approved the organization of the Non-Oil Revenue Center and commended the historic performance of non-oil exports for 2025, which achieved annual growth of 15% compared to 2024, reflecting the success of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The Council also approved amending the start of the state's fiscal year to be on the eleventh day of Capricorn (corresponding to January 1) and ending on the tenth day of Capricorn (corresponding to December 31).
At the international level, the Council authorized His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs to discuss with the Indonesian side a draft memorandum of understanding for political consultations. It also approved an agreement for mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and special passports between the Kingdom and the People's Republic of China. The decisions also included legal, tourism, and investment cooperation agreements with sisterly and friendly countries such as Qatar, Egypt, Bahrain, Guinea, and Belize, in addition to approving promotions to the fifteenth and fourteenth ranks and the appointment of a Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
