Qataris wishing to perform Haj must apply online

Manama: Muslims in Qatar planning to perform Haj this year must first submit an online application, officials have said.

The online registration on the website www.hajj.gov.qa of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs starts this Sunday.

The Qatar News Agency quoted Ali Bin Mubarak Al Fihami, Acting Director of Haj and Umrah at the Ministry, as saying that registrations would close on September 8.

"Applicants need not register with Haj operators this year," Al Fihami said.

"They can instead register with us online. Once the list of successful applicants is issued, they can then choose their Haj operator."

The move is a break from the earlier practice of the ministry designating Haj operators for the pilgrims.

It now allows them to choose their own operators and sign contracts with them.

No foreigner is allowed to go to Haj without an operator approved by the ministry.

According to the conditions, applicants submitting requests to go for Haj need to have been based in Qatar for at least three years and must not have performed Haj in the past five years.

They must hold a valid residency permit issued by Qatar to be able to apply for a Saudi visa.

Proof of relationship

Applicants must also submit either a no-objection certificate from their sponsor or a leave certificate. Women accompanying men must submit proof of their relationship, the ministry said.

Chip-embedded cards would for the first time be given to the pilgrims as part of a tracking system and they would be required to pass security checkpoints in Saudi Arabia.