The Ministry of Haj and Umrah has specified the procedures to be assumed by the General Administration of Legal Affairs at the ministry to investigate any wrongdoings by Haj companies serving domestic pilgrims, and the steps to impose penalties on violators by a tripartite committee that will consider the violations, in addition to the complaints submitted by the pilgrims.

The ministry indicated that the decisions concerning the complaints will either involve maintaining the case, giving notices, or issuing the stipulated penalty, a report in a local newspaper said.

The administration will develop the legal memos on the cases that are being investigated, pending its submission to the body of jurisdiction.

The ministry confirmed that the department for monitoring and follow-up at the administration of Haj companies for serving domestic pilgrims will supervise and follow up on these companies to ensure their readiness and detect any irregularities and observations through field inspection campaigns before the Haj season begins.

These steps aim to make sure that the contracting processes are being implemented in accordance with the regulations and laws. In addition, the department for monitoring and follow-up will conduct field trips during the season to evaluate the performance of the Haj companies and ensure they provides the satisfactory services, and to document any irregularities.

The directions of the Ministry of Haj and Umrah urged all Haj service providers to acquire the necessary permits for Haj firms and companies serving domestic pilgrims, and for the allocation of the required sites for their pilgrims at each holy site, in addition to completing procedures to rent the necessary buses.

The directions included also the need to receive the requests for Haj permits from the companies and establishments, and to supervise and follow up on their performance, and the enforcement of the sanctions issued by the tripartite committee.

The directions emphasized on acquiring licenses for performing their work, asserting that these licenses and permits are a must to serve domestic pilgrims.

The directions issued for Haj companies serving domestic pilgrims also emphasized the importance of approving the requests to rent buses from outside the Kingdom. The transport department will make sure of the regularity of these rented buses from outside the Kingdom through procedures in place to issue visas for the drivers coming on these rented buses.

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