Abdullah Al-Dahhas Okaz/Saudi Gazette MAKKAH — The first batch of pilgrims is set to arrive in the Kingdom on July 31, according to Hatim Bin Hassan Qadi, spokesman of the Haj Ministry. He said the Haj pilgrims will be arriving within over a week's time while more than 331,000 Umrah pilgrims have not so far left for their respective homes. Qadi said starting last Nov. 23, the beginning of the Umrah season, until July 19, a total of 5,949,212 Umrah visas were issued. “Of them, 5,715,969 pilgrims have actually arrived in the Kingdom on Umrah visa,” he said. “As many as 5,384,943 pilgrims have performed the rituals and left for their homes while 331,026 pilgrims are still lingering in the Kingdom,” he added. Qadi said July 31st is the deadline fixed for the departure of the groups of pilgrims who have been brought by the Haj and Umrah service companies. “The individual pilgrims who have come on their own will continue to depart according to their flight schedules until Aug. 15,” he said. The spokesman said the ministry has an electronic program which enables it to daily follow up the numbers of the departing pilgrims and the procedures being taken by the Haj and Umrah companies to ensure that none of them overstays in the Kingdom. Qadi said the ministry has already started implementation of its Haj plan on Tuesday to ensure the best services to the guests of God. “The operations plan, which was approved by Haj Minister Bandar Al-Hajjar in Ramadan, included preparation of locations of tents in Mina and Arafat and their handing out to the Tawafa establishments and domestic Haj companies,” he said. The spokesman also said the plan includes training of seasonal workers who will be providing various services to the pilgrims.
