Haj pilgrimage made more affordable for select people

Those in the selected category have to pay the lowest fares.

The Ministry of Haj and Umrah, Saudi Arabia, will introduce a new category of Haj services which will enable pilgrims to perform the annual pilgrimage at lowest cost. 
The new category will be an addition to the existing three categories of services for domestic pilgrims - general, facilitated and low-cost. The fourth category is aimed to enable larger number of Saudi nationals and expatriates to perform the annual pilgrimage at a much affordable rate without compromising on the quality of services, according to Abdurahman Al-Haqbani, chairman of the Coordination Council for Domestic Haj Companies and Establishments.
Al-Haqbani said the pilgrims who will be chosen for the fourth category will need to pay the lowest fare compared with the existing three other categories, according to Saudi Gazette.
He further added that 193 companies and establishments have been qualified to provide services for domestic pilgrims for the next Haj. The ministry's e-portal is expected to be open for registration of Haj on Ramadan 15 (May 20).

• Saudi Arabia