Dubai: Prices of UAE-based Haj packages have fallen around 30 per cent this year because of greater competition among Haj tour operators, following a new pilgrim quota system, operators and officials have said.

This year, 6,228 Haj permits were allocated for Emiratis — 25 per cent more than last year. It means some 144 licensed private Haj operators (also called Haj campaigns) in the UAE had to compete closely for a greater share of pilgrims.

Also new this year, the previously fixed quota of 33 pilgrims per Haj operator was removed by authorities. Instead, each operator was allowed up to 150 pilgrims this year.

Expatriates, meanwhile, must travel to their home country to apply for Haj permits, under the national Haj quota system for each country, set by Saudi Arabia.

“Regarding Haj packages, it has become a supply-demand scenario this year. Each operator had to compete for as many pilgrims as they could this year, based on their prices, services and packages. Some managed to get 150 pilgrims, some didn’t even find one,” said Yahya Fouad, a member of staff at Al Eitisam Haj operator in Dubai.

“As a result, more competition has reduced prices by around 30 per cent. Previously, as an operator, you knew you would get a quota of 33 pilgrims.”

Prices of Haj packages vary greatly, depending on the air ticket, kind and duration of hotel stay, proximity to holy sites, transport services, food options, among other factors.

Al Eitisam’s standard Haj package price fell to Dh25,000 per pilgrim from Dh35,000 last year — almost a 29 per cent drop.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (also known as Awqaf) says on its website that the 2017 Haj packages ranged from Dh9,000 to Dh55,000 per pilgrim.

It adds the “majority of the Haj operators announced competitive packages that ranged between 20,000 and 25,000 dirhams for a four-person room at five-star hotels, recording a decrease of 30 per cent compared to the packages of last season”.

One operator mentioned to Awqaf that the double-room package price dropped from Dh55,000 last year to Dh31,500 this year for hotels of the same grade that are close to the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

Awqaf adds: “On the other hand, part of the campaigns divided their prices into five-star and three-star hotels, the aim being to attract the largest number of pilgrims possible. Their prices ranged between Dh10,000 and Dh12,000 for a four-person room at a three-star hotel; around Dh13,000 for a three-person room; while the double-room price did not exceed Dh16,000.”

Another operator, Al Sadra, told Awqaf that the drop in prices was more than 30 per cent, citing the Awqaf’s decision to increase the quota of pilgrims for each operator to 150 as the reason for the drop. This contributed to promoting competitiveness to attract more customers, the head of Al Sadra said.

Pilgrims from the UAE will begin leaving early next week on Haj flights to Saudi Arabia. Dedicated services and immigration lines will be set up at airports for pilgrims to facilitate their journey. The rites for Haj will begin around August 29 this year, with Eid Al Adha expected to begin on August 31 or September 1. Pilgrims will start returning on Eid.