Ahmad Al-Kinani and Abdulaziz Ghazzawi Okaz/Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — The Ministry of Haj has said its e-portal for pilgrimage services will remain open from Aug. 16 to Sept. 14 to allow domestic pilgrims to register for performing Haj.
A source from the ministry said the e-portal would facilitate the process of registering for Haj campaigns for individuals and companies alike.
“The ministry has approved a certain number of Haj campaigns and Haj service providers. Pilgrims may choose the package suitable for them through the ministry's website. A search engine will help them look for the desired campaign and services,” said the source.
The source also said the pilgrims should know that there are no additional expenses after they have paid for the Haj package of their choice through the ministry's website.
“Payments are done electronically. Once the payment is processed, the pilgrim is automatically registered in the campaign he chose without any need for further confirmation. The ministry is monitoring the prices set by Haj campaign companies with a fixed percentage of profit for the companies,” said the source.
The ministry is also monitoring the quality of services offered to the pilgrims, he said.
“The ministry also monitors the agreements and policies posted by the Haj campaigns to ensure that they comply with the ministry's regulations to save the pilgrims from falling into the trap of fake campaigns. The e-portal will also increase transparency in the services,” said the source.
The ministry has allocated camps under each company's name and ensured there are convenient parking spaces for buses transporting the pilgrims. For all necessary information, including a list of packages with their prices, prospective pilgrims may visit the website: localhaj.haj.gov.sa from Sunday.
Malicious website The deputy head of the National Haj and Umrah Committee, Abdulaqader Al-Jabarti, said several Haj services companies have reported the presence of a malicious website.
“The companies reported that the website posted false information on Haj campaigns, services and package details. The companies have demanded the website to be blocked and the committee has filed a lawsuit under information security laws,” the Makkadh daily quoted Al-Jabarti as saying.
He said pilgrims should be careful not to trust information they obtain from various websites or text messages, except the official sites of the ministry.
