Ali Bin Garsan

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

 

MAKKAH – The Administrative Court in Makkah quashed the decision of the Ministry of Haj to allot residential towers in Mina to new companies.

 

The court ruled that the ministry’s decision to deny the buildings to the companies that have investments in the project is unjust and hence it is null and void.



The court issued urgent orders to continue allotment of the towers to the old investors until the case is examined and settled after the Haj season.



Sheikh Faisal Al-Osaimi, the judge, took the decision following a petition filed by Abdullah Al-Sufyani, who invested in tower number five. The petitioner complained that the ministry earlier gave his Mina Real Estate Company the go ahead to accommodate pilgrims for the sixth consecutive year. But all of a sudden, the ministry backtracked from its decision and allotted the tower to a new company, he claimed. 



Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Abdullah Al-Sufyani said that he came forward to invest in the tower project after several companies refused to make any investments.



“I have already invested SR50,000 for each room and spent SR14 million for furnishing the tower that can accommodate 2,436 pilgrims. We chose these buildings instead of tents, and we incurred huge losses due to swine flu scare in the first year itself,” he said.



Meanwhile, Abdurahman Al Nafeei, assistant undersecretary at the ministry, said that the ministry earlier notified the investor that he has the license for accommodation of only 1,000 pilgrims and he has no right to use the entire tower.



Meanwhile, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has started carrying out its plan to provide pilgrims with all necessary services.



The objective is also to educate and create awareness among the pilgrims on religious matters.



In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), General President for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Sudais said that copies of the Holy Qur’an and guidance leaflets and booklets are distributed to the pilgrims.



Al-Sudais said that among the most important works that will be carried out this year is to increase the number of sheikhs and Ulema who give lectures and Ifta.



Pilgrims this year will benefit from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expansion of the Grand Mosque that will accommodate 400,000 worshipers.



The Agency for the Affairs of the Prophet’s Mosque will supervise the services provided to visitors of the mosque around the clock.