UAE | General
Buses to Makkah with fewer than 25 pilgrims banned
Decision is aimed at increasing road safety and reducing congestion
- By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter, Gulf News
- Published: 00:00 November 19, 2009
- Image Credit: Abudul Rahman/Gulf News Archive
- Haj pilgrims can be seen boarding the bus for Makkah, near Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre, Abu Dhabi, Tuesday.
Abu Dhabi: Vehicles with fewer than 25 Haj pilgrims will be prohibited from entering Makkah, in a new measure adopted by Saudi Arabia.
The decision is aimed at increasing road safety and reducing congestion during this year's pilgrimage, officials said.
The UAE Interior Ministry said it had been informed of the new rule by its Saudi counterpart.
The ministry has advised motorists travelling by road for the pilgrimage to follow the regulation in order to avoid inconvenience.
Motorists will be allowed to cross the UAE-Saudi border if there are fewer than 25 pilgrims per vehicle, but Makkah cannot be entered unless there are at least 25.
Owing to frequent road accidents and breakdown of vehicles, Saudi authorities have come up with a number of terms and conditions that must be met in order to transport pilgrims in buses.
The measures are in place for the safety of pilgrims and hence are not subject to legal accountability, according to a statement issued by the ministry.
The buses should be equipped with all safety measures and should take into account the comfort of the passengers.
They should be fit for long journeys. Passengers must be able to open and close the windows easily.
There should be ample space for passengers to move within the bus and to store baggage.
Essential safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and first aid kits should be available in adequate quantities depending on the size of the bus. Technical inspection certificate issued by the authority concerned should be present.
Meanwhile, the UAE's official Haj mission left for Saudi Arabia on Monday to make necessary arrangements ahead of the pilgrimage.
Hamad Yousuf Mualla, Deputy Chairman of the mission, led the delegation, which aims to prepare the premises of the mission in Makkah, Madinah, Mina and Arafat.
The mission includes a medical team to equip clinics and pharmacies, in addition to other teams for inspection, preaching, media and security.
Comments (1)
|
More from UAE General
More from UAE
Latest news
- Bridges needed
- Last chance for subscribers to win big
- Gang charged with robbery using air-freshener
- it was just a ‘vampire' game, driver tells court
- Restaurateur found dead in flat
- Dubai Police solve murder mystery
- Educating fussy Emirati jobseekers
- Abu Dhabi Police rescue victims of car crash
- Sharjah festival to enlighten heritage lovers
- Reimbursement of ID card fines to start in March
- Compensation to vary for fire victims
- Police honour residents who reported crime
- 9 injured as paraglider crashes into stadium
- Move to promote Abu Dhabi tourism
- RTA: 0.25m YouTube, Facebook, Twitter followers
Community Reports
-
Bridges needed
Al Ittihad Road has no pedestrian facilities as one nears Sharjah
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
-
Safety regulations flouted at Dubai work place
In Al Nahda 2, two workers were seen working on the crane boom at a height of 20m without a full body harness or safety net in violation of rules
