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Awqaf cancels licence of Haj operators for breaking law

The UAE Haj and Umrah regulators have decided to cancel licences of two Haj operators and ban their owners from practising the profession as they committed a series of violations stipulated in the Cabinet Resolution No. 30 of 2013 regulating the Haj and Umrah affairs.

In its meeting, the Haj and Umrah Licensing Committee of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowment (Awqaf) listed these irregularities as issuance of unlawful permits, hours long delays in processing travel procedures of pilgrims at the airport, and sending them back from points of entry, among others. The committee noted that the two Haj contractors committed all these violations despite having been served final ultimatums during previous Haj seasons.

The committee has also decided to suspend licences of four Haj operators for a period ranging between one year and three years for issuing unauthorised Haj cards and flouting accommodation requirements for pilgrims.

The committee has slapped fines on 20 erring Haj operators and served final ultimatum to other four operators for failing to commit themselves to the approved quota and to signing contracts with pilgrims.

The committee took these actions after thoroughly examining the reports, violations and complaints received during the last Haj season.

• UAE