Firms named to serve over 1.2 million overseas Hajj pilgrims

Cairo: Saudi Arabia has named 17 companies licensed to serve more than 1.2 million overseas pilgrims due to arrive in the kingdom to perform the upcoming annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage.

The service providers have embarked on implementing their operation plans as the countdown is underway to the arrival of the faithful for the Hajj set to begin in a few weeks' time.

Two companies are to take care of more than 155,000 pilgrims, while two others are to serve over 146,000 pilgrims, the Saudi newspaper Okaz reported.

The Hajj-related service sector in the kingdom has over recent years seen intense competition among Hajj companies after the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah adopted new regulations.

Endorsed two years ago, the rules allow companies to operate without a specific nationality.

Requirements for eligible firms include a five-year renewable licence, the applicant business must be owned and managed by Saudi citizens, and the company's capital be no less than SR5 million for every 100,000 pilgrims.

In addition, the company's legal status should be in line with the stipulations of the Hajj service provider system for overseas pilgrims and its executive regulations.

Neither the licence applicant, nor the company's chairman, the board of directors, or any board member should have previously been subject to a disciplinary penalty, revoking their licence, or have been named over a violation for negligence in undertaking any service-linked work.

Around 1.8 million Muslims, including 1.6 million from abroad, performed last year’s Hajj.