DOHA: The licensed Haj and Umrah tour operators (Muqawils) in Qatar will face up to QR300,000 in fines if they fail to provide the services to the pilgrims as agreed in the contract, according to the new law (No 3 of 2015) re gulating Haj and Umrah services.
Muqawils operating without a licence will face heftier fines up o QR500,000. It is also not permitted to operate with more than one licence which is punishable with QR300,000 in fines.
Besides the licence, the operator is required to obtain a separate permission from the authorities concerned to conduct Haj trips every season and that permission will expire with the end of the season. Those found operating without a permission will face fines up to QR500,000.
The law has stipulated a similar punishment for Muqawils who fail to fulfil the requirements specified in the licence to ensure a safe and comfortable pilgrimage.
The licence holder must be a Qatari residing in Qatar and the licensed company should be fully owned by a Qatari, as per the Qatari commercial law. In exceptional cases, the licence can be issued to a company jointly owned by Qataris and non-Qataris with approval from the Prime Minister.
The licence will be for three years renewable for a similar period. The licence will be cancelled if the licence holder fails to meet the conditions specified in the law, in the case of his death or cancellation of the services.
If a violation of the law is reported, the legal affairs section at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs will conduct an investigation and decide the action accordingly.
The action will range from a mere warning to preventing from operating tours for a period not more than a year or cancellation of licence temporarily for maximum seven years or permanently.
All licence holders must adjust their status according to the provisions of the new law within a maximum of six months from the date of enforcement. The Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs will issue the executive regulations for the law.
Several citizens and tour operators believe that the new law will curb the influence of middlemen and unlicensed agents in the sector, with strict punishments stipulated in the law.
Mohammed Yusuf Al Hammadi, an established Haj and Umrah tour operator said the law will end the chaos in the sector created by some illegal operators.
“There are tour operators who don’t commit to the agreements they made with the pilgrims. They offer some services and the pilgrims end up with something else as they reach the holy premises. This law is expected to end such practices,” a local Arabic daily quoted him as saying.
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