DOHA: Members of Qatari Haj Committee will be visiting Makkah by the end of next week to inspect accommodations for Haj pilgrims.
They will check whether the accommodations organised by Haj operators meet the standards and specifications set by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.
For this year’s pilgrimage, the Haj and Umrah Affairs Department at the ministry has specified that each operator should not have less than 50 pilgrims in a batch.
Operators bringing pilgrims by air should not have more than 250 while those using buses should not have more than 150.
Each operator should also provide people with special needs with suitable transport.
Operators are not allowed to put up pilgrims in four areas of Mecca which are old and crowded — Al Sulemania, Al Mukhatat, Al Jumaiza and Al Reyzakher.
According to rules, religious guidance for Haj mission should be approved by the ministry and all documents, booklets and audio materials by the guide.
The guide should be provided with a special room and telephone line to communicate with pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah so that he can answer their questions.
Nobody is allowed to do the job of the guide, to give lecture or issue fatwa without approval of the committee. The guide should not be asked to do administrative job.
According to health safety regulations, administrators and drivers are not allowed to smoke.
They are not allowed to take any medical personnel without permission of the concerned committee.
Accommodation norms stipulate that each pilgrim should be provided with a fully furnished room of not less than 16 square meters and special dining and prayer rooms for men and women.
Accommodation in Makkah must be in four- or five-star hotels with three meals. In case pilgrims are delayed at border check points, the operator must provide them with juice and water.
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