Licences of three Haj contractors cancelled

Licenses of three haj pilgrim contracting offices were cancelled, five warned and 25 others fined for breaking rules set by the Haj and Umrah Department (HUD) at the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs and Awqaf.

The unprecedented decision was taken by the Haj Pilgrim Higher Committee (HPHC) in its meeting on Tuesday keeping in mind the directives of Mohammed Nakhira Al Dhaheri, Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs and Awqaf.

Saif Al Elitr, Director of the HUD, confirmed that the committee, presided over by Dr. Mohammed Jumma Salim, the Ministry's Under-secretary for Islamic Affairs, decided to cancel licenses of Al Ghusais, Al Jamiah, and Al Darai haj contracting offices, in addition fining them.

The offenders include: Manasik, Fujairah, Dar Al Hijra, Elaf, Al Sideeq, Al Abrar, Al Hidaya, Al Hashimi, Al Hamoor, Diba Al Fujairah, Al Batha, Humaid Al Mazroui, Shuaib, Al Falah, Al Diri, Al Baluchi, Al Bara'a, Al Tawheed, Al Sahil Al Sahrqi, Addar, Al Eid, Bin Hasoona, Abdalla Sultan, and Bin Karam.

The reasons for cancellation were repeated complaints against them, according to Al Etr. A report prepared by the HPHC on each of them shows a number of violations. He added that the HPHC also decided to release banking guarantees of nine contracting offices which did not go against the rules set by the HUD in the last Haj season.

The HPHC ordered those offices whose licenses were cancelled and those which had received warnings, to call on the Ministry within 15 days to pay fines ranging between Dh1,000 and Dh200,000.

Dr. Mohammed Jumma Salim described the decision as 'historical and aimed at putting the contracting offices on the right track once again'.

The report revealed that Al Ghusais Haj Contracting Office offended the hajis in many ways. It did not provide a doctor and a nurse to pilgrims, or report the time of arrival of the pilgrims at the holy places, or provide separate residing places for both sexes, or suitable transport for pilgrims, nor did it hand over contracts to 22 hajis. The Office was fined Dh142,500 and had its licence cancelled.

Al Ain-based Al Jama'a Haj Contracting Office had only one complaint against it. It did not provide a tent for 32 Hajis in Mina. The licence is cancelled and the company fined Dh16,000.

Al Ain-based Al Darai Contracting Office was accused of subcontracting with the unlicensed Al Sheikh Travels to transport 20 hajis. The office was fined Dh4,000. Its licence was cancelled for the many complaints filed by the public on the performance of the office, and the warnings it received from the Ministry.

The Dubai-based Manasik was punished for not informing the Ministry about all the locations in Madinah and Makkah in which its pilgrims were to stay. It also did not provide food as per contract to 346 pilgrims of a Haj delegation, and 91 other pilgrims in Mina and Arafat.

The report recommended a fine of Dh200,000 on Manasik. The HPHC proposed that Manasik be demoted from a first to a second class haj contracting office. The office had been receiving complaints for five consecutive years from the Ministry about keeping women and men in the same place, and on transporting hajis in unsuitable buses.

The report confirmed that Fujairah contracting office, based in Fujairah, had not abided by the rules of separating sexes, did not provide suitable transport to 125 hajis, misguided hajis about their residing place, and refrained from handing over contracts to 12 hajis. The fine proposed is Dh196,000. The office was further demoted from second to third category.

Other offices fined for negligence were: Al Abrar, which was fined Dh11,000 and was warned; Dar Al Hijra was fined Dh111,500, and was warned; Elaf, Dh59,000; Al Sideeq Dh48,000 and was warned; Diba Al Fujairah Dh9,500 and was warned; Al Jamiah, Al Hidaya, Al Hashimi, Al Hamoor Dh11,000 each; Al Batha Dh6,000; Humaid Al Mazroui, Shuaib Al Falah, Dh5,000; Al Baluchi Dh3,000 and a warning; Al Bara'a Dh1,000 and a warning; Al Tawheed Dh1,000 and a warning; Al Sahil Al Sahrqi, Dh1,000 and a warning; Addar Dh1,000; Al Eid and Bin Hasoona Dh1,000 and a final warning; Abdalla Sultan was warned; Bin Karam Dh1,000 and a warning.