Manama: Over 10,000 people from outside Saudi Arabia have applied to perform Haj (pilgrimage) this year.
The deadline for the online registration ended on September 9. However, it will remain open for Qatari nationals until the end of the Hijri month of Dhu'l Qa'da.
With nearly three million Muslims converging in Makkah for the annual ritual, the Saudi authorities have imposed Haj quotas on all countries, prompting local processes to limit the number of people who can perform the pilgrimage.
The Department of Haj and Umrah at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs plans to shortlist all Haj applications after the Eid holidays and says priority will be given on a first-come-first-served basis.
The shortlisted applicants will enter a draw to decide the final names of those who will perform Haj and the department will send them text messages, Qatari daily The Peninsula reported on Tuesday.
The selected candidates will have to complete the remaining procedures within a specific period and any failure to do this may result in disqualification, the official added.
