Saudi competent authorities have tightened a number of procedures and regulations to prevent manipulation and negligence in the services provided to pilgrims, vowing to severely punish companies or entities that fail to assume their tasks during the Hajj season this year.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that it has referred a CEO and an official in one of the Hajj companies for questioning over the company’s failure to provide the required services for pilgrims.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is strictly following up all the services provided by agencies and companies operating during the Hajj season to ensure their quality and monitor and address violations immediately, as part of its efforts to guarantee the security and comfort of the pilgrims, in implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince.
In previous remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Dr. Abdel Fattah Mashat, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, noted that the ministry’s dedicated teams were monitoring service providers and setting accurate criteria through electronic platforms.
He added that the ministry has set some proactive measures to prevent violations, in addition to immediate penalties for negligence and direct compensations to the pilgrims.
In this context, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah issued at the end of the month of Ramadan penalties against ten companies, amounting to 50,000 Saudi riyals for each company, due to shortcomings and violation of the duties and statutory obligations provided to pilgrims, including housing and transportation services.
