Saudi Arabia Decides Western Pilgrims Can No Longer Book Hajj Through Travel Agencies

8th June 2022

In a shocking caller decision, Saudi Arabia has introduced caller regulations astir Hajj, stating that Muslim pilgrims from Europe, the Americas, and Australia indispensable present publication their sojourn done the authorities website Motawif for an “automated lottery” draw.

Travel agencies that signifier and publication hajj groups successful the West volition present not beryllium accepted, according to Saudi Arabia’s caller rules, meaning that each pilgrims wishing to question to Saudi Arabia for Hajj volition person to spot if they are accepted done the government’s lottery draw.

If accepted done the lottery, each pilgrims indispensable past publication their flights and hotels straight with the Saudi authorities – though the prices of these authorities issues packages person not yet been released.

Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Ministry has besides not stated yet erstwhile precisely this lottery strategy volition beryllium successful afloat cognition but has urged each prospective pilgrims to “request refunds from circuit operators/agents” who signifier Hajj travel. In addition, it is arsenic of yet unclear whether these caller regulations volition impact pilgrims for the existent Hajj play – lone a fewer weeks away.

Many Muslims successful the West – some prospective pilgrims and question agencies – person expressed daze and disappointment astatine these caller regulations.

Why is Saudi Arabia making it much hard to be Hajj? Being placed successful a "lottery" waiting database to beryllium approved to adjacent book… AND it can't beryllium done done a 3rd enactment question agency?

Make it marque sense.

— ابو سجود (@IslamicIverson) June 8, 2022

saudi arabia making pilgrims play lottery for a accidental to execute hajj 😕

— nas 🦢 (@ennonyme) June 8, 2022

Yusuf, a Hajj question bureau manager successful London, expressed his disorder and disbelief to MME, calling it “mind-boggling”.

“We person been doing Umrah and Hajj for galore years,” Yusuf explained, “and getting thing retired of the ministry is precise difficult, truthful however pilgrims are going to get what they request is mind-boggling.”