The consulate of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Cairo has begun using a new electronic system to issue visas for the Umra, or minor pilgrimage, to Islam's most holy sites, the daily Al Akhbar reported.
The consulate is using more than 100 modern computers to issue the visas, thereby saving applicants and employees a lot of paperwork. The new visa diplays the photo of the holder and all the personal information required by the new visa regulations.
Egypt has been chosen as the first country for the new system in order to facilitate the travel of the Arab African country's traditionally large numbers of pilgrims during the Ramadan, the Muslim holy month now approaching in mid-November.
Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Ibrahim Al Saad told the daily that “There is no problem with issuing the visas and the three consulates in Egypt issue them regularly and at a rate exceeding the anticipated daily average." – Albawaba.com
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