Okaz/Saudi Gazette TABUK – Domestic pilgrim service providers in Tabuk are embroiled in fierce competition to lure Haj pilgrims with false promises of providing excellent services and facilities. Most of the providers offer promises such as VIP facilities, tents near Jamarat and transportation in between the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. But in reality most of these firms are not in a position to provide the types of services and facilities they advertise. There are more than 10 pilgrim service establishments and organizations located along the street between Suleimaniya and Sultan districts in the city. Several citizens with limited incomes who wish to perform Haj this year have complained that the firms are asking for prices higher than the rate fixed by the Ministry of Haj. They urged the ministry to intervene and stop the firms from charging unfair rates. Waleed Al-Awaji and Marwan Al-Shahri, two residents of Tabuk who wish to perform Haj this year, said one firm is charging a minimum of SR7,600 from each pilgrim. “The firm is providing bus transportation for pilgrims to cross the 1,100 km distance between Tabuk and Makkah. The establishment's tents in Mina are located several kilometers from the Jamarat area and its services are not much different from establishments that charge much less,” Al-Awaji and Al-Shahri explained. Abu Sultan, another citizen, said most of these establishments make false promises about giving excellent services in order to levy exorbitant charges. “Lured by the intensive promotion campaign with offers of a wide variety of the best services and facilities, I registered with an establishment to perform the obligatory pilgrimage last year. But when I reached Mina, I was surprised to see that our tent lacked many of the facilities and services offered in the package,” he said. Abu Sultan urged the ministry to intensify inspections to ensure protection of the rights of pilgrims and said firms found in violation of regulations should be penalized. Yahya Salama, supervisor of a Haj service office in Tabuk, said firms were granted licenses electronically via the Ministry of Interior represented by its Civil Status Department and the Ministry of Haj. The department issues a Haj license after registering the ID number of the pilgrim and upon payment of SR25. He urged the Ministry of Haj to increase the quota of pilgrims for domestic service companies which is 40 percent less this year. “There are no major Haj service operators in Tabuk. All the firms have the status of a branch Haj service operator. Such a firm can serve a maximum number of 1,500 pilgrims. Therefore, a number of citizens have urged businessmen and investors to open major Haj service offices to serve the population of Tabuk that has reached half a million, according to the latest census,” he said. Meanwhile, a source at the ministry's branch in Madinah said the ministry would examine complaints with regard to service violations.
