Makkah News and Updates

The first group of 268 Sri Lankan pilgrims arrived Wednesday at the Haj Terminal in Jeddah on a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight.

Ambassador Ahmed A. Jawad, Consul General Adam Bawa Uthumalebbe and officials from the Sri Lankan Consulate in Jeddah welcomed the group at the airport.

At the Colombo airport, the pilgrims were seen off by senior minister in charge of Sri Lankan Haj operations Abdul Hameed Mohamed Fowzie, Western Province Gov. Alavi Mowlana, Consul General in the Saudi Embassy Sultan Al-Dakheil, Saudi Arabian Airlines Country Manager for Colombo and Maldives Fikry Al-Towayan and Aero World Managing Director Kareem Shums.

Jawad said the first group of pilgrims was part of the 3,151 pilgrims expected to arrive in the Kingdom during the season. The last group from the island would arrive in Makkah on Oct. 20.

Jawad said the embassy and the consulate in Jeddah have prepared its staff to serve the pilgrims. This year only the Saudi Arabian Airlines and SriLankan Airlines would ferry the pilgrims from Colombo.

SriLankan Airlines flew in its first group of 275 pilgrims to Jeddah yesterday. A total of 11 flights from both carriers have been arranged by the department of Haj headed by Mohammed Nawavi in Colombo.

Consul General Uthumalebbe said his consulate has deployed a team at the Haj Terminal to meet and greet Sri Lankan pilgrims. The officials will offer refreshments to the pilgrims on arrival and attend to their needs until they leave for the holy cities. He added that his mission had formed three teams in Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah to assist the pilgrims.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry sent two diplomats to the Saudi Embassy in Colombo to issue Haj visas to Sri Lankan pilgrims.

According to an official from the Saudi Embassy in Colombo, the issuance of Haj visas to the pilgrims through their respective travel operators was smooth.

Speaking from Colombo, Minister Fowzie said this year those performing Haj for the first time have been given preference in the pilgrims’ selection process. “I have also stipulated a maximum charge of 425,000 rupees for each pilgrim that should include airfare, accommodation and internal travel,” Fowzie said, warning that any travel operator who surcharges pilgrims will be severely dealt with.

Around seven percent of the country’s 20.2 million inhabitants are Muslim.

Fowzie thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for investing millions of dollars to serve the pilgrims, who come to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah from all parts of the globe. "We appreciate all the expansion work that are being done to improve the services for the pilgrims,” he said, pointing out that the request for increased Haj quota was turned down not only to Sri Lanka but also to several other countries due to the development work at the holy sites.

MADINAH: ARAB NEWS

Saturday 29 September 2012

The Ministry of Haj affirmed yesterday that pilgrims from all parts of the world are treated alike and that the Haj regulations stipulate that only those who comply with terms and conditions governing Haj visas are allowed to enter the Kingdom.

“A woman below 45 should be accompanied by a mahram for Haj and this fact is clearly stated in the entry visa issued to a woman and her mahram regardless of the nationality of a pilgrim,” spokesman of the ministry Hasan Qadi said in a statement to SPA. The statement was issued following media reports quoting president of the Nigerian Haj Mission that a group of Nigerian women Haj pilgrims who arrived in the Kingdom were denied entry at the airport and flown back.

According to a Reuters report on Friday, Nigeria suspended flights to Saudi Arabia for Haj, following some difference of opinion between the two countries about the detention of some female pilgrims for arriving unaccompanied by men.

Reuters also reported that Aminu Tambuwal, Nigeria’s Parliament speaker, was due to visit the Kingdom to try to resolve the issue.

“The rule that a mahram should accompany a woman is applied to all who want to get an entry visa to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj and it has been in force for a long time,” Qadi said. “The Ministry of Haj confirms the keenness of Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to receive pilgrims from all over the world ensuring their comfort and freedom from worries but they should adhere to the regulations,” he said.

Meanwhile, authorities have started deporting 1,100 Nigerian women as the Saudi Passport Department and the Nigerian Consulate could not settle the issue. Already 171 pilgrims were sent back on Wednesday, Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported.

29 September 2012 - 13 Thul-Qedah 1433 H

Fifteen female volunteers from South Asia Tawafa Establishment have taken an intensive first-aid course in preparation for this year’s Haj.

The course trained the volunteers to provide first-aid services to pilgrims during emergencies.

Fatin Hussein, chairwoman of the female volunteers committee, said the first-aid course focused on cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills, how to deal with epileptic cases, diabetic comas, wounds, fractures, sunstrokes, burns, cardiac arrests and others.

Hayat Ba’arimah, specialist nurse at King Abdul Aziz Hospital in Makkah, delivered the course and attendance certificates were given to all participants.

زيادة نسبة المباني 550% في توسعة المسجد النبوي وتضاعف أعداد البوابات
الثالثة في العهد السعودي وتعد الأقصر في مدة التنفيذ

السبت 29/09/2012
قدرت مصادر لـ»المدينة» زيادة نسبة المباني في توسعة خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز الجديدة للمسجد النبوي الشريف والتي وضع حجر الأساس لها منتصف الأسبوع الماضي بأكثر من 550% تقريبًا فيما ستصل الزيادة في استيعاب المباني فقط لأكثر من 450% وستقفز بمساحات البناء في المسجد النبوي لأكثر من 600 ألف متر مربع وكشفت المصادر عن تضاعف عدد بوابات المسجد النبوي الشريف في التوسعة الجديدة لتصل لمايقارب 50 بوابة رئيسة وتعد التوسعة الثالثة التي يشهدها المسجد النبوي الشريف في العهد السعودي قفزة كبيرة في إعمار المسجد النبوي لم يشهدها طوال تاريخه من ناحية حجم التوسعه والوقت الزمني لتنفيذها.

وبدأ مشروع عمارة المسجد النبوي في العهد السعودي كفكرة في يوم السبت 12/08/1368هـ حيث طرحت فكرة التوسعة السعودية الأولى و بدأ المشروع فعليًا فى 05/10/1370هـ. وفي أوائل سنة 1372هـ. تم الانتهاء من الهدم وإزالة الأنقاض ووضع حجر أساس التوسعة في يوم الاثنين 13/03/1372هـ وفي في يوم 24/09/1372هـ تم البدء بحفر الأساسات حيث تم الانتهاء من مشروع التوسعة والاحتفال بانتهائها في يوم السبت 05/03/1375هـ. لتستغرق مدة الإنجاز أكثر من تسع سنوات وفي في شهر محرم 1403هـ جاء الأمر بالتوسعة الثانية ليوضع حجر الأساس للتوسعة في يوم الجمعة 09/02/1405هـ حيث استغرقت مدة إنجاز المراحل التنفيذية للتوسعة وإزالة المباني ثلاث سنوات فيما اكتملت البنية الأساسية للتوسعة في منتصف عام 1410هـ ليتم الانتهاء من التوسعة في نهاية 1414هـ حيث استغرقت مدة الإنجاز أكثر من ثمان سنوات لتأتي التوسعة الثالثة في العهد السعودي والتي ستنجز خلال مدة قصيرة ستصل في المتوسط إلى 24 شهرًا.

225,256 Pilgrims Arrive in Madinah

Madinah, Dhu-AlQa'dah 13, 1433, Sep 29, 2012, SPA

The number of pilgrims arriving yesterday at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport and receiving stations in Madinah amounted to 22,961 pilgrims while the number of departing pilgrims amounted to 13,005 pilgrims.

The Secretariat of Hajj Committee in Madinah reported that the total number of pilgrims arriving in Madinah so far has reached 225,256 pilgrims, departing 41,792 pilgrims, and remaining 183,450 pilgrims.

from around the world to perform Hajj

Riyadh, Dhu-AlQa'dah 13, 1433, Sep 29, 2012, SPA

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has ordered the hosting of 1400 Muslims from a number of countries to perform Hajj this year 1433 AH, within the Hosting Program, which is annually supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance.

This was announced by Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, who is also the general supervisor of the hosting program, Sheikh Saleh bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh.

The minister thanked the King for the order which embodies constant care by the King for the interests of Muslims around the world.

The minister said that the Muslims whom the King ordered hosting this year belong to the countries of Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Singapore, Myanmar, Japan, Laos, Bhutan, New Guinea, Taiwan, South Korea, the Maldives, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, South Sudan and other various African countries.

The total number of the hosted pilgrims since the start of the ministry's supervision of this program to the current Hajj season has reached nearly 20000 Muslims from around the world.

Sunday 30 September 2012

JEDDAH: The King Abdul Aziz Foundation (Darah) yesterday signed an agreement with the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques for cooperation in scientific research.

It was signed by Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the presidency, and Fahd Al-Sammary, secretary-general of the foundation, in the presence of Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense.

“The presidency will benefit from the foundation’s research facilities and archives of historical documents,” an official statement carried by Saudi Press Agency said.

The foundation plays an important role in documenting the Kingdom’s history in general and that of the two holy mosques in particular, the statement pointed out.

“This agreement is a new addition to the services being rendered by the Saudi government for the two holy mosques as it relates to scientific documentation of their developments,” said Al-Sudais.

He commended Prince Salman for his support for research works on the Kingdom’s history and described the Darah as a glittering educational and cultural institution in the Arab world.

Al-Sammary, who is director general of the Makkah History Center, praised Prince Salman’s support for researchers and institutions engaged in documenting the Kingdom’s history. “The new agreement will contribute to documenting the Saudi government’s efforts in the service of the Two Holy Mosques,” he pointed out.

NADIM AL-HAMID

Sunday 30 September 2012

MAKKAH: The government is working on introducing an e-track monitoring system while developing centers of inspection and screening at the entrance of Makkah to prevent undocumented pilgrims from entering the holy sites, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said yesterday.

The governor was launching a national campaign to create awareness among pilgrims.

Prince Khaled said there is need to put an end to unauthorized pilgrimage by Saudis and expatriates who sneak into the holy sites without carrying valid Haj permits or without taking the services of domestic Haj agencies.

“Over the past years, several studies have indeed confirmed that the key problems facing the Haj management are linked with overcrowding and incidents of stampedes, makeshift tents on the roadsides, accumulated waste, campfire cooking and lack of sanitation,” the prince said.

Prince Khaled, who is chairman of the Central Haj Committee, said the campaign has developed a new set of communication objectives. “Its most notable objective is to remodel Haj outreach efforts by turning the campaign from being just a one-off event into a strategic multistakeholder initiative that fosters the concept of a well-integrated Haj sector and realizes the interests of all partners,” he said.

The campaign targets key partners comprising the broader society that effectively hosts the Haj ritual, including both Saudi citizens and residents, and the economic community that consists mainly of those who work and economically benefit from the Haj season, along with all the formal sectors in charge of providing services to pilgrims.

“Throughout this campaign efforts will be made to tap the energies of young men and women in the Makkah region. Youths have demonstrated a willingness to volunteer in various developmental, social and religious activities,” the governor said.

“We hope that real interaction with these youth will be further strengthened by effectively boosting their role in voluntary work through their active participation in Haj management and their support for the manifold efforts in the fields of organization, security, safety and sanitation,” he explained.

The emergence of young leaders will certainly have a positive impact on their peers in the larger society, he added.

The campaign has focused on the different government sectors in the security field and the various departments of the Ministry of Interior that takes charge of monitoring implementation of Haj rules and regulations while at the same time ensuring the security of pilgrims.

These daunting endeavors also involve a sharp sense of their essential role and the magnitude of their responsibility that entail civic manners and the stringent application of laws with the highest professionalism, he said.

“The campaign has driven home the need to strive collectively to preclude irregular pilgrims from accessing the holy sites as a patriotic and religious duty,” the prince said.

The governor emphasized the Makkah mayoralty’s role in ensuring the cleanliness of the holy sites, meeting the requirements of Haj sacredness and the immaculate purity of the event.

“Sanitation and cleanliness of Makkah and holy sites should be given top priority,” he insisted.

Other government agencies targeted by the campaign are the official religious bodies, such as the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, as they are entrusted with the task of enhancing Haj awareness among pilgrims.

“A key message in this context is that performing Haj in line with the country’s regulations and dutiful authorizations serves the purpose of the Haj and the pilgrims,” the prince said.

DAVID STRINGER | AP

Saturday 29 September 2012

UNITED NATIONS: Algeria demanded new efforts Saturday to limit freedom of expression to prevent denigrating attacks on Islam, appealing to the United Nations to take a lead as nations engaged in new debate on the tensions between free speech and religious tolerance.

In an address to the General Assembly, Algeria’s foreign minister Mourad Medelci called for global action under the auspices of the United Nations to respond to violent demonstrations provoked by a US-produced video that mocks Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad (praise be upon him).

While Medelci didn’t offer precise details of how he believed the UN could intervene, his call follows similar demands at the General Assembly from scores of leaders in the Muslim world who want new laws to ban insults against Islam.

On the sidelines of the annual forum, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, told The Associated Press Saturday in an interview that the deaths of two dozen people in violent protests against the anti-Islam film underscored the need for new legislation.

Malaysia’s foreign minister Anifah Aman told the General Assembly that the creators of the anti-Islam film — an amateurish, privately produced US video that mocked Muhammad’s image — and those behind the publication of lewd caricatures of the prophet by French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo had shown “blatant malicious intent” toward Muslims.

“When we discriminate against gender, it is called sexism. When African Americans are criticized and vilified, it is called racism. When the same is done to the Jews, people call it Anti-Semitism. But why is it when Muslims are stigmatized and defamed, it is defended as ‘freedom of expression’?” Aman told the General Assembly.

Aman he believed it was “time to dwell deeper into the heart of the problem and the real debate — the relationship between freedom of expression and social responsibilities, duties and obligations.”

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari had called in his speech Tuesday to the General Assembly for action led by the UN to address a “widening rift” between the Muslim world and the West.

Italy and Jordan said Thursday at a meeting on the sidelines of the forum that they were already working on an initiative to promote religious tolerance, which had begun before the anti-Islam video went public. The drive to push better understanding will involve a conference of experts and academics in the coming months.

Egypt’s President Muhammad Mursi also called for limits on free speech, to help protect “the world from instability and hatred.”
Mursi said Wednesday his country would respect freedom of expression, but only when it “is not used to incite hatred against anyone, one that is not directed toward one specific religion or culture.”

Yemen’s President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi told the General Assembly on Wednesday “there should be limits for the freedom of expression, especially if such freedom blasphemes the beliefs of nations and defames their figures.”

Zardari warned that the “international community must not become silent observers.” In a speech Tuesday he called for the criminalization of “acts that destroy the peace of the world and endanger world security by misusing freedom of expression.”

Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudnoyne — head of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation — told the General Assembly on Tuesday that previous initiatives at the UN had failed to halt intolerance. The “defamation of religion persists, we have seen yet another one of its ugly faces in the film ‘Innocence of Muslims’,” he said.

In his speech Tuesday to the General Assembly, President Barack Obama described the anti-Islam film as “crude and disgusting,” but mounted a defense of freedom of expression.

He warned that “in a diverse society, efforts to restrict speech can become a tool to silence critics, or oppress minorities.”

“The strongest weapon against hateful speech is not repression, it is more speech — the voices of tolerance that rally against bigotry and blasphemy, and lift up the values of understanding and mutual respect,” Obama said.

Speaking Saturday, Liechtenstein’s Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick said that the “hateful slander of people on the basis of their culture or religion is unacceptable,” but did not join calls for new laws. She urged nations instead to promote values of “tolerance, understanding and mutual respect.”

30 September 2012 - 14 Thul-Qedah 1433 H

MAKKAH — Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region and Chairman of the Central Haj Committee, chaired Saturday at the governorate a meeting of the committee, which comprises representatives of all sectors related to the pilgrimage service.

At the outset of the meeting, Prince Khaled said the number of pilgrims who arrived by air, land and sea have already exceeded 300,000. He pointed out that the number of arrivals will double in the next few days.

He said the increasing number of pilgrims requires continued exertion of utmost efforts and preparations to provide distinctive services for the guests of God. He said this requires that all the plans laid down by different authorities ought to be well-coordinated and supported to achieve success.

Prince Khaled lauded the standard of services and the efforts exerted by the authorities concerned to serve pilgrims during last year’s Haj season. He stressed the need for continuing efforts to upgrade the standard of services, develop them and benefit from lessons learned from previous seasons. "Observations ought to be addressed so as to achieve better standards," he said.

The prince stressed the importance of mutual cooperation and coordination between the different Haj agencies.

The meeting discussed the plans of the Ministry of Haj, Makkah Mayoralty, the Health Affairs in Makkah region, police, the Directorate General of Passports, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Jeddah Mayoralty.

They discussed the latest measures taken to increase the capacity of pilgrims’ housing in Mina and the studies and projects accomplished for unifying the sorting points at the gateways to Makkah during Haj and Umrah seasons.

30 September 2012 - 14 Thul-Qedah 1433 H

MAKKAH — Religious scholars have ruled that it is not permissible for Umrah performers to overstay their visas and seek jobs in the Kingdom without returning to their countries.

They also said such actions can lead to logistic problems and security concerns at Haj. The pleas came after a campaign was launched by the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s national committee for Haj and Umrah to crack down on overstayers.

The scholars urged citizens and foreigners not to provide shelter to Umrah overstayers, because such actions would make it difficult for the police to catch them

Religious scholars and sheikhs hoped the permits issued by the Ministry of Haj would reduce Umrah visa overstayers.

The committee seeks to educate citizens and expatriates about the risks involved in providing Umrah overstayers with shelter.

Sheikh Salih Al-Feraih, undersecretary for development at the School of Dawa and Shariah at Umm Al-Qura University, said this sort of trend exists throughout the world and can have bad economic, social and security-related consequences.

Most Umrah performers decide to remain in the country to see if they can find a job and somehow improve their quality of life, he added.

He said: “Most Umrah performers wait patiently for the day they arrive here on Umrah or Haj visas.”

Al-Feraih said strict penalties should be imposed on the violators of residency laws here.

Deterrent penalties would reduce this trend, he added.

Sheikh Fayez Al-Ruwaithi, a Dawa activist based in Makkah, said many Umrah performers who overstay their visas choose to beg on the streets of Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah.

He also said that some of those who violate residency laws and stay illegally in the Kingdom get involved in criminal activities.

Concerned authorities, citizens, expatriates, recruitment offices and tourist agencies should join forces to fight this trend, he said.

He added: “Effective solutions should be designed for this negative trend.

“This can only be achieved by conducting an exhaustive field study to explore the entire problem and its factors.”

Dr. Mahmoud Kisnawee, professor at the Department of Islamic Education, Umm Al-Qura University, said this problem has been ongoing for a few decades despite efforts to tackle it.

He added: “I believe this is due to the increasing number of pilgrims and new laws that allow Umrah performers to come to the Kingdom any time of the year.”

30 September 2012 - 14 Thul-Qedah 1433 H

RIYADH – STC announced that it has completed preparations to serve pilgrims for the 1433H Haj season, by employing all its technical and human resources to develop network technologies and capabilities, and to raise network capacity by approximately 60 percent.

The company increased connection capacity between its servers by 100 percent, in addition to boosting international link circles by more than 192,000 circles, in an effort to keep pace with the growing numbers of pilgrims. STC also supported its networks in Makkah and Madinah with more than 747 new locations, aiming to raise the efficiency of mobile and 4G LTE networks.

The change brings the total number of stations to more than 2400 in Makkah and Madinah, made available by STC to better serve pilgrims, to enhance the efficiency of the company’s network and the services it offers to pilgrims while they visit the Kingdom.

STC improved the services it offers to pilgrims by expanding its network coverage to “Mawaqeet” regions and the roads that connect them to Makkah, and by employing the latest mobile 2G technologies, and 3G with speeds reaching 42.2 Mbps, in addition to covering 53 sites in the Haram with a comprehensive list of telecommunication services, continuing to consolidate its leadership by providing the best and latest technologies with the highest international standards of quality.

These projects fall in line with STC’s commitment to continuously improve current services and to identify and respond to additional requirements for visitors and pilgrims by studying their demands and analyzing the potential growth in the market and in the increase in demand, to explore the possibility of expansion and redesigning of services to accommodate the increasing demands in the Haram region.

It is worth mentioning that STC is the first operator to introduce the 4G technology in Makkah, where it achieved a leap of progress in data transfer speeds, allowing customers the convenience of 100 Mbps internet speeds wherever they are in Makkah.

Meanwhile, STC enhanced the interactive TV “Invision” service features in an innovative way that allows customers to enjoy watching the latest movies on demand through their post-paid Invision account, or by entering their pre-paid SAWA card serial number, giving them a variety of options on their method of payment, and enabling them to control their own show time, not to mention their ability to select desired films according to their SAWA card account balance, a feature especially handy for parents as they can give their children a certain balance, giving them control over the amount of movies rented from Invision.

Through STC’s video on demand (VOD) service, Invision customers have the convenience of watching many of their favorite movies, dramas, and various programs in a modern way that reflects their need to control what they watch on their devices. Invision also offers exceptional internet speeds that reach 200 Mbps in addition to unlimited calling across the Kingdom, all in one bill, and for free. Customers also get to watch visual content in an impressive, interactive fashion, furthermore, they get to watch, pause, record, and replay their favorite shows.

Uzbek couple motorcycling to Makkah


Bibi-Khanym mosque in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

2012-09-29

TASHKENT – A hardy Uzbek couple are performing this year’s Hajj aboard a three-wheeled, enclosed motorcycle, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)’s Uzbek service reported September 27.

The Hajj will be the seventh for retiree Abdusattor Urmonov, 67, and the first for his wife, Mariya Tokhirova. In 20 days, they’ve gone from Tashkent to Atyrau, western Kazakhstan, averaging 50km/hour and benefitting from the kindness of strangers who have offered lodging, mechanical repairs and money. The 7,000km journey to Makkah requires them to cross Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The motorcycle’s home-made cabin contains a portable gas stove, tent and sleeping bags. The couple expect to reach Makkah one week before Kurban-bairam (Eid ul Adha), Tokhirova said.

Urmonov previously performed one Hajj by bicycle. Next year, he plans to undertake his eighth Hajj.

Oman set for Haj


Grand Mosque Oman

September 30, 2012

Muscat: Haj registrations under the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs for citizens and residents in the Sultanate, which started on September 9, closed yesterday. A total of 14,000 pilgrims from Oman, including 2,500 expats, will embark on the Haj pilgrimage this year.

Hajj organisers will start ferrying pilgrims from October 9 night, either by road or flights, and will continue till one week before the Haj rituals actually begin in Makkah.

Jamal Al Balushi, proprietor of Al Najd Heights, Ruwi, who has been organising Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages for residents of Oman for the last nine years, told Times of Oman that his group will leave Muscat on October 17 by air.

"We offer accommodation near Jamarat area in Mina which enables pilgrims to accomplish the task of stoning the devil with ease. In Makkah and Madina, we provide four-star accommodation.

Our batch will return on October 30,-� he said,

Meanwhile, Dr Kahlan bin Nabhan Al Kharusi, assistant grand mufti of the Sultanate, who will lead the Haj delegation this year, said, "We have in place a mechanism that monitors and supervises the contractors. We will lend support to the organisers to make Haj comfortable. We have identified a list of 234 contractors to process the papers of the pilgrims.-�

He added, "For Haj 2012 the ministry will provide 14,000 sofa cots, one for each Omani pilgrim at the Omani camp in Mina. In addition to this, a new service has been added to provide tents, water, and meals in Muzdalifa and Mina.-�

Al Eman (Travel Point) has launched a VIP Haj programme, including three-night stay in Madinah. Known for its impeccable services, Al Eman has been favoured by a large clientele who prefer executive treatment.