The Hajj Minister of Saudi Arabia, Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, has announced that pilgrims who were affected by the Hajj service providing companies’ breach of agreement during the last Hajj season will receive more than SR160 million in refunds. Speaking at a press conference, the minister stated that the ministry will not hesitate to apply penalties to any company that does not meet the provisions of the Hajj agreement. He added that the ministry is monitoring the implementation of the agreed packages and penalties would be applied if any company fails to adhere to the signed agreements.
This year’s Hajj will witness the return of the number of pilgrims to the period before the outbreak of coronavirus, with no age restrictions. In addition, Al-Rabiah noted a decrease of 39% in the prices of Hajj services, with 1.4 million pilgrims benefiting from the economic package. The minister also mentioned that there has been a significant increase in the number of pilgrims from 58 countries, as well as extending the Umrah visa from 30 to 90 days earlier.
The minister emphasized that the Kingdom had spent hundreds of billions of riyals to ensure the safety and satisfaction of the guests of God. The preparations for this year’s Hajj include electronic services to facilitate the pilgrim’s journeys and virtual Hajj experiences for the first time, ensuring high efficiency. With approximately two million pilgrims expected to attend, the minister assured that the Kingdom has prepared a clear and coordinated plan to organize the dispatching process to ensure movement between the holy sites is safe for all.
