Transport agencies have been classified in three categories.©Gulf News
The first batch of pilgrims from the UAE left for Makkah by bus on Tuesday, according to Haj agencies. Four buses with pilgrims left on Tuesday evening from Sharjah, said an agent from the Al Shahba Haj and Umrah Agency. Buses also left from Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Saudi Arabia has allowed only 23,000 pilgrims from the UAE this year, 900 less than last year. This has resulted in lesser quota of pilgrims allocated to each agency in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

Also this year the rates have gone up. Due to the reduced quota, agencies are justifying the increase in charges.

"All agencies have been accorded categories and number of pilgrims are decided by that," said the agent. Class one category of agents are allowed to register 1,000 pilgrims, class two 500 pilgrims and class three only 100."

Al Shahba Agency is a class two category firm, yet the agency registered only 300 pilgrims this year compared to 700 last year.

Agencies have lost about 35 per cent of passengers this year. "The market was open in the past. The smaller quota has hit our business," he said.

Ibrahim Al Suwaidi, owner of Sharjah-based Ailaf Haj and Umrah agency, said he is sending only 30 UAE nationals this year who will be travelling by air.

In Abu Dhabi, the minimum Haj package for pilgrims travelling by bus costs Dh4,000.

The Al Amin Haj and Umrah Agency in Abu Dhabi sent the first batch of pilgrims a day later to avoid congestion at the UAE-Saudi border at Al Ghuaifat.

Ali Abdullah Al Sarti, director of Al Amin agency, said the quota has badly affected business. The agency is classified as class three.

Last year, the minimum charge for each pilgrim going by bus was Dh2,800. The package has increased to Dh4,000 this year because of the lesser number of pilgrims.

Earlier, Haj agencies could register as many pilgrims as they could handle. "We registered 400 pilgrims last year. The number reduced to 100 this year," he said.

Agencies have increased the Haj package in Sharjah to Dh3,500, Dh700 more than last year's rate.

Haj packages generally range between Dh3,500 to Dh5,000 this year, depending on the services offered. For pilgrims going by air the package starts from Dh6,500. The deadline for pilgrims going by bus is January 23 and by air January 26.