SANA’A, July 22 – Absent from Yemen for four months, Ali Mohammed Al-Hamdan, the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen returned this Friday to exercise his mission anew.

According to the ambassador’s secretary, the work of the embassy has resumed as usual, and all Umra-Hajj related activities have been finalized smoothly. The secretary said visas have been granted to Umra-seekers without hindrance.

The closing of the Saudi embassy in Sana’a last month resulted in paralyzing tourism and slow business for umra and hajj agencies dependent on Ramadan. Thousands of Yemenis travel to holy places in Saudi Arabia to perform annual umra rituals. Due to closing of the Saudi embassy, many students and workers were kept from entering Saudi Arabia.

Salah Al-Din Al-Asadi, the public relations officer of Al-Sabeel Establishment for Pilgrimage and Umra Services, confirmed that the Saudi embassy has newly begun granting visas for Yemenis wanting to go to Mecca for umra.

“The problem is that the visas we’ve given to our clients three months ago expired,” Al-Asadi said. “There are more than 500 expired visas due to the closure of the Saudi embassy.”

Al-Asadi questioned whether or not the embassy will find a solution for Yemenis who waiting for Umra. He called on the embassy to provide those Yemenis with new, valid visas.