Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said more than SR160 million was refunded to the pilgrims during the last Hajj season, due to breach of contracts by Hajj service-providing companies.

Addressing a press conference to brief on the ministry’s Hajj preparations and arrangements here on Thursday, Al-Rabiah said the ministry will not hesitate to apply penalties against any company that failed to fulfill the provisions of the Hajj agreements.

“A large number of observers are following up on the implementation of the agreed packages, and penalties will be applied to any company that does not abide by the implementation of the signed agreements. We not only look at penalties, but we also care about incentives, and we work to motivate and honor any company that provides services that exceed expectations, and we have mechanisms to measure levels of satisfaction,” he said.

Al-Rabiah reviewed the early planning and preparation for this year’s Hajj, as well as electronic services to facilitate the pilgrim’s journey, new developments in organizing Hajj, and the facilities that contribute to enabling the arrival of Umrah pilgrims.

He emphasized that this year witnessed the implementation of virtual Hajj experiences for the first time to ensure greater efficiency. He pointed out that this Hajj will witness the return of the pilgrim numbers to the pre-pandemic period and that there will be no age restrictions. He noted that there has been a decrease of 39 percent in the prices of Hajj services. He said 1.4 million pilgrims benefited from the economy package, adding that competition contributed to enhancing quality and reducing prices.

Al-Rabiah indicated that pilgrims from 58 countries in Europe, the Americas and Australia were allowed to apply online through a unified platform in seven languages, in addition to the possibility of choosing the appropriate package with the advantage of lower prices.

The minister pointed to a decrease in comprehensive insurance costs from SR235 to SR88, without changing the existing services and coverage. He stressed that the developments that took place in facilitating the arrival of pilgrims included an increase in the number of pilgrims by 30 percent from the highest number previously achieved. It will increase further in the coming years, in addition to extending the Umrah visa to 90 days from 30 days earlier.

He indicated that this year’s Hajj comes after the cessation of Hajj in its natural form for three years, in addition to virtual experiences for the first time to ensure efficiency, especially since there are about two million pilgrims this year.

Al-Rabiah said the Kingdom spent hundreds of billions of riyals to serve the guests of God. “We have prepared a clear and coordinated plan to organize the process of dispatching pilgrims with Hajj companies to ensure the ease of movement between the holy sites,” he added.