RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is considering abolishing the requirement to accompany a mahram for women arriving for a pilgrimage, Saudi media reported on Saturday, after women could rent rooms in hotels without a mahram.
"The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has responded to the call of Umrah companies and institutions to allow women to perform Umrah rituals without a mahram," local media quoted the National Commission for Hajj and Umrah as saying.
The sources said that the decision is still under study, and that if implemented it will relieve Umrah agents abroad, and is equal to the requirement of tourist visa for women, where the authorities are considering new procedures for the issuance of visit visa, whether for Umrah, tourism or other, without a mahram.
About two weeks ago, the Tourism Authority approved new measures, including permitting hotel accommodation for women without a mahram, and for foreigners without being bound by the family register.
Late last month, Saudi Arabia announced the activation of the "tourist visa" for the first time, so that citizens of 49 countries can obtain it electronically in a record time not exceeding seven minutes.
The authorities aim to attract 100,000 visitors a year by 2030, with most foreign arrivals so far limited to resident labor, their families, businessmen and pilgrims who receive a special visa to visit Mecca and Medina.