Okaz/Saudi Gazette

 

MAKKAH — The Ministry of Haj will soon launch an electronic gate that will eliminate fake Haj service providers and decide the fees to be paid by the domestic pilgrims on the basis of the services provided to them.

 

This was announced by an official source in the ministry who opted not to be identified. He did not disclose the criteria for uncovering fake Haj companies or when exactly will the gate be launched.

 

The source, however, said the ministry now has an electronic system for domestic pilgrims to register and pay the fees.

 

"The ministry's main objective behind launching this program was to serve Saudi and expatriate pilgrims and put an end to exaggerated prices," he said.

 

The source said under the program, 50,000 pilgrims can pay between SR5,000 and SR3,000 to perform Haj, based on the classification of the local Haj service-providing company.

 

He said domestic pilgrims have been complaining of high costs for Haj services while the companies are objecting to the reduced rates decided by the ministry.

 

The source said the program offers a formal reference for both pilgrims and companies to go back to in case of disputes over the services offered, the price or the terms of contracts.

 

Meanwhile, a six-man committee established by the ministry to review the prices of the low-cost Haj program has set the maximum price to be levied by the domestic companies at SR11,200, which is SR3,200 more than the ministry's current ceiling of SR8,000.

 

The committee, comprising representatives of the National Haj and Umrah Committee and local Haj companies, proposed that the companies be classified into four groups instead of the present five.

 

It said the prices for domestic pilgrims should be SR6,900, SR8,400, SR10,900 and SR11,200, depending on the nature of the services provided.