Hajj, Umrah related businesses exempt from licence renewal fees

Hajj and Umrah-related businesses have been exempted from licence renewal fees from March until December 2020, as a result of a UAE cabinet decision.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments will also extend the validity of expired licences until this period, official news agency WAM reported.

The decision adopted by the UAE Cabinet aims to alleviate the burden on the owners of Hajj and Umrah operators.

Saudi authorities have currently suspended all Umrah pilgrimages due to the pandemic and are yet to confirm whether the Hajj pilgrimage will go ahead.

Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Muhammad Saleh bin Taher Banten, has called upon countries worldwide to ‘be patient’ in concluding Hajj contracts for this year.

Read: Saudi minister calls on countries to ‘be patient’ regarding Hajj pilgrimage

The UAE Cabinet adopted several other decisions related to improving the work of the federal government as well, underpinning various national sectors in minimising the effects of the pandemic, and facilitating their services provided to the public during the ongoing crisis.

The cabinet also adopted a decision to re-structuring the board of directors of the Federal Tax Authority for three years.

Furthermore, the cabinet adopted an amendment related to membership in the UAE Council for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, after the merging of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Committee with the council under its current name.