Bahraini Hajj Operators Demand 2,000 Additional Pilgrims to Compensate for Losses

TDT | Manama

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Over 30 licensed Hajj operators in Bahrain are appealing to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa after failing to secure the minimum number of pilgrims required for next year's pilgrimage. The operators are requesting an additional 2,000 pilgrimage slots for Bahrain, bringing the total to 6,625, to be distributed among the affected companies. This came during a meeting organised by the operators to discuss solutions for their ordeal.

Several operators shared their grievances, highlighting issues with the online registration system and a lack of transparency in the allocation process. Jaffar Al Madhhoob, owner of Al Ammar Hajj Campaign, stated that he previously secured 2,000 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia, which were integrated into Bahrain's quota. "A committee formed by the operators met with officials, including the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, to address the issue. The Speaker of the House of Representatives (Ahmed Al Mussalam) has also taken up our cause," he said during the meeting.

Abduljalil Al Owainaty, owner of Al Najat Hajj Campaign, pointed out that some operators have served pilgrims for over 80 years. "Before last Hajj season, an agreement was reached to allow each operator to manage 50 pilgrims, but the requirements and mechanisms changed afterward. As a result, many campaigns failed to secure the necessary quota," he explained, expressing hope that HM the King would alleviate the suffering of the more than 30 affected operators and their families.

From his side, Waleed Al Khaja, owner of Al Hejra Hajj Campaign, criticised the lack of clarity and transparency in the methods used by the Hajj Affairs Committee. He stated that the electronic registration process should have included the presence of operators during the selection of names. He noted that the failure of many operators has resulted in pilgrims having to pay 2,400 dinars instead of the previously registered 1,600 dinars, with remaining operators now controlling prices.

It's worth noting that the Kingdom implemented a new pilgrimage registration system, allowing each pilgrim to choose their preferred campaign. However, a minimum quota of 90 per campaign was enforced, resulting in the elimination of those who failed to meet it