No quota cut for Oman Haj mission this year

Muscat : Almost 16,500 faithful from Oman are expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca as no quota cut has been imposed by the authorities in Saudi Arabia, according to Shaikh Dr. Kahlan Bin Nabhan Al Kharousi, Chairman of the Haj Commission.

“Initially we were expecting around 14,000 but we are seeing a last minute rush to register thus the number could to go up,” Dr. Al Kharousi told Gulf News. He reckons that finally 14,000 citizens and 2500 expatriates will make their journey to the Holy Place in Mecca.

“We have a complete on-line registration process where as pilgrims register through the Muqawils (Haj tour operators),” he said, adding that there were 220 operators licensed to provide services to the pilgrims wishing to go for Haj.

He added that a new building in Mecca for the Omani delegation was built with latest amenities and direct online connection with the headquarters in Oman.

“This year’s Haj comes in exceptional circumstances as the world is witnessing the spread of H1N1 pandemic,” Dr Al Kharousi pointed out. However, he added that a stronger medical team of 50, including male-female doctors as well as nurses, would accompany the Haj delegation.

“We have created a room especially for isolating suspected H1N1 patients at the new building,” he revealed. “The best possible medical help would be provided to pilgrims from Oman at the new building,” he assured.

Talking about the numbers, he said that the authorities had to turn down at least 30 per cent of the applicants. However, he added that all of the 30 per cent hopeful turned down by the authorities in Oman fell under the category of people advised not to take up pilgrimage this year due to the fears of H1N1 spread.

“It was advised to avoid give Haj permission to elderly (over 65 years), small children (under-12), pregnant women and people with high risk diseases,” he clarified.

He praised Saudi authorities for treating the GCC nations at par with them. “There’s no quota cut for any of the GCC states and we are really thankful to Saudi Haj authorities for treating all GCC nations same as the Saudi nationals for Haj permissions,” he pointed out.

He also said that every Haj pilgrim (nationals as well as expatriate) would be given H1N1 vaccine, as it was mandatory before they go for the pilgrimage.

Although there are no quota cuts this year for Oman, some of the operators are seeing a drop in number of registration.

“I have fifty per cent less pilgrims registered through me,” Kamiliya Al Kharousi, who has been sending pilgrims to Mecca for the last nine years. She claimed that being a Grade One Muqawil (operator) she caters to VIP clients only.

“The current circumstances (H1N1) and advisory for elderly, children and high risk patient has affected the number,” she said but refused to give the number of pilgrims registered through her. “I cannot give you the number but can say it is 50 per cent less than last year,” said Al Kharousi, whose cliental, as she claimed, is high end.

Jamal Al Balushi also has a license to register pilgrims and he said that there was no restriction on quota despite the fears Swine Flu. “I have registered 50 pilgrims, same as last year,” he said. He also pointed out that his friend Maqbool Al Balushi also had the same quota for Omani pilgrims and he had filled the full quota.

However, Hassan Baba, who teaches under the Indian Islamic School for Koran Studies, had to be satisfied with a less number this year. He is licensed to register only non-Arab Muslims. “Last year we took 130 pilgrims but this year we have only 91 pilgrims,” he said, adding that except for two Sri Lankans, rest were all Indians.