Saudi authorities have sealed a total of 330 hotels and furnished apartments in Makkah and Madinah over violating the rules in holy cities, which are major destinations for Muslims worldwide.

The measure was taken when the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom initiated the inspection of 2000 hotels, aiming to regulate the tourism sector and provide better facilities of hospitality.

In Makkah, the ministry shut down 280 facilities that were running without licenses required for operating business.

At least 50 hotels and other facilities have been stopped from working in Madinah, following the detection of 1,200 violations including pending obtaining licenses.

The inspection was launched under the motto, “Our guests are a priority.”

The Kingdom aims to attract 100 million tourists by the year 2030, as part of the ambitious diversity of the oil-reliant economy. To achieve this goal, authorities are regulating the sector and upgrading the quality of the services.

Being host to holy places of Islam, Saudi Arabia receives millions of Muslim pilgrims yearly who perform Umrah, and Hajj, and visit the tomb of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) in Al Rawda Al Sharifa.

Saudi Arabia is expecting 10 million Muslim pilgrims for Umrah in 2024.