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Haj operators resent move to halve quota of pilgrims

As per the new quota system, some 214 Haj operators will carry 7,000 nationals and 6,500 expatriates from the country to the holy lands to perform Haj. Last year, 28,000 from the UAE had gone for Haj.

“I believe this decision is not well-thought-out as it has already caused repercussions,” said a Haj contractor working in Deira.

“It’s hard to see how we can work with this new law as there are no alternatives. For example, it’s difficult for two or three Haj agencies to join together and split the increased expenses covering the logistics of transporting pilgrims to the holy lands,” he explained.

The contractor, who did not wish to be named, pointed out that costs would inevitably rise with the reduced number of pilgrims per agency: “If I have seven or eight staff, consisting of a doctor and a scholar to guide pilgrims through their duties, a male and female paramedic plus some helpers, to cater for 100 pilgrims under my charge then I will have to employ the same number of staff even when the number of pilgrims has been reduced to 50, as their services are indispensable.”

According to him, Haj operators will prefer to run air trips although the cost will shoot up drastically. He warns that the problem could aggravate by 2009.

Another issue was accommodation, the contractor said, with less pilgrims meaning less rooms booked in hotels increasing the likelihood of Haj operators paying more.

The contractor outlined that the absence of a body representing the interests and concerns of Haj agencies in the UAE meant that the issue could not be raised effectively with the authorities. “In my country we have two or three representatives who can contact the relevant ministry to discuss such matters and that helps bring about some sort of settlement,” he said.

Mohammed Al Amin, an Haj operator in Abu Dhabi, criticised the decision. “This will force many agencies out of business as the majority of Haj operators are classified in the third class category allowing 31 national and 14 resident pilgrims,” he said, noting that even these figures would be cut by 50 per cent next year.

“By 2009, the quota of pilgrims will be cut down to around 4,000 national and resident pilgrims, forcing numerous operators to close down,” he maintained.

Abd-Al Rasheed from India, who works at Al Humoor Haj agency, said businesses were facing a difficult time. “I think many contractors will have to close down. Some will focus their operations on Umrah probably, while others could take up more UAE nationals as customers to keep their operations going,” he opined.

Hafiz believes that his agency in Bur Dubai, Al Fujairah for Haj and Umrah, would be able to manage but admitted that some contractors would not be able to recover the money they’ve invested in the Haj operations. Hafiz said air travel packages to the holy lands costing Dh13,000 could double, with those by bus possibly rising from Dhs7,000 to Dhs10,000.

An Egyptian translator working in Dubai voiced his concerns over the new decision saying, “I have been wanting to perform Haj for a long time. Now it is getting harder to travel to the Holy lands. I would request the authorities to tighten regulations on those who have already performed Haj, so that first-timers can get an opportunity.”

Sufiyan, from Palestine, said he supports the new measures. “There is not much control regarding the pilgrims issue. You sometimes come across people who’ve performed Haj several times. I think it would be good if the number of pilgrims is reduced,” he said.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Dr Saif Al Jabri, representative of Dubai Islamic Affair and Charitable Services in the Haj committee of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Dubai, said the ministry’s decision concerning Haj quota was based on studies on the population of Muslim countries done by Saudi authorities to avoid accidents that occur during the Haj season.

“The UAE is one of the countries that has a lower population including national and residents and yet it sends a large number of pilgrims every year. The quota was reduced by 50 per cent according to the findings of the population study,” he clarified.

Dr Al Jabri said the decision had already contributed a great deal to doubling the cost of performing Haj, which he remarked was going to be a large burden on those who intended to perform it this year. He stated that the authorities governing Islamic affairs are not able to control the rising costs as Dubai is a free market, adding that prices differ from one campaign to another based on the quality of services provided.

“Pilgrims who performed Haj in the last five areas will not be allowed to go this year, so as to give a chance to others,” declared Dr Al Jabri.

• UAE