By Abdullah Al-Dahhas

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — The Ministry of Haj and Umrah has specified that 239,000 domestic pilgrims will perform Haj this year with fees ranging from SR3,477 to SR14,000.

The registration process for domestic pilgrims will be through the ministry’s e-portal after which pilgrims will pay the required fees to obtain Haj permits.

The ministry has so far given license to 114 local Haj companies out of 250.

According to the ministry, there will be 23,477 seats for subsidized Haj while the seats for Haj Muyasar (facilitated pilgrimage) will be about 10,000.

The beneficiaries of the facilitated pilgrimage will be accommodated in Makkah and transported to the Holy Sites in buses. They will be using the Mashaer train inside the Holy Sites.

The ministry has also banned local Haj companies from making exaggerated advertisements for their VIP pilgrimage or showing pictures of tents specially prepared for VIP pilgrims.

All TV channels except for Saudi TV and Al-Ekhbariyah news have been banned in tents.

“Local Haj companies have no right to advertise their services before obtaining the legal seasonal license,” the ministry said in its booklet titled ‘The Directory of the Executive Procedures’ which was approved by Minister Mohammed Saleh Bantan.