Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — The Ministry of Haj and Umrah has warned all domestic Haj companies against advertising VIP services to pilgrims and asked them to stay away from exaggerating the level of services to be extended to the guests of God.

The ministry told the companies only to publicize their commercial names, registration numbers, the number of the pilgrims they are allowed to serve, their address in Mina with the classification of the camps and their capacity.

It said the companies could promote train transport to pilgrims between Makkah and the holy sites.

The ministry, on the other hand, said it would start receiving applications from citizens and expatriates for the Haj starting Saturday, the first day of the Hijri month of Dhul Qada.

There will be three categories of pilgrimage, which are the general Haj, the low-cost Haj and the Muyasser (facilitated) Haj.

The ministry said the handover of the tents will begin on Dhul Hijja 14 (Aug. 25) and continue until Dhul Hijja 20 (Aug. 31).

The ministry will hand back all the tents in Mina to the Public Investments Fund of the Finance Ministry after the end of the Haj season. The last date to hand back the tents in Arafat to the Makkah Municipality will be Dhul Hijja 15 (Aug. 26).