Hajj Prices Expected to Decrease Next Year, Says Campaign Owner

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Report by Ashen Tharaka

Jasim Abel Sahib, the owner of a prominent Hajj campaign, has announced that the prices for Hajj are expected to decrease next year, with costs starting from 1,600 dinars. The pricing will vary based on factors such as services provided outside the Kingdom, airfare, accommodations in Mecca or Medina, the number of people sharing a room, and any additional services.

The anticipated drop in prices is attributed to increased competition among Hajj campaigns and the transparency introduced by the new registration system. This system, centered around an e-government platform, allows citizens to register directly without having to go through individual campaigns.

Jassim Abel Sahib highlighted that in previous years, the Bahraini pilgrimage mission allowed campaigns to merge and distribute returns among contractors. However, the new system gives contractors the freedom to choose the number of pilgrims they wish to manage. For every 50 pilgrims, contractors are required to pay 10,000 dinars as insurance, which will be refunded after the Hajj season.

The registration process is expected to be completed within a month, and campaigns with fewer than 90 registered pilgrims will be canceled. This will enable the redistribution of pilgrims to other campaigns, fostering competition and potentially lowering prices. New campaigns launched this year will also contribute to the price reduction, as pilgrims will have more options to choose from.

Abel Sahib also noted that applications for conducting campaigns were open from August 25 to September 8. The insurance amount was established to ensure that campaigns can provide adequate services to pilgrims. The approval process for these campaigns will be completed in the second phase, followed by the selection of Hajj pilgrims on the platform.