THE first group of Haj pilgrims from Bahrain left for Saudi Arabia yesterday with all measures in place to ensure their safe arrival there to perform the religious rituals.
The first flight took off from Bahrain International Airport (BIA) for Jeddah and Madina, with flights continuing to ferry the pilgrims until the middle of next week.
The pilgrims were seen off in the presence of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister and High Committee for Haj and Umrah Affairs chairman Nawaf Al Maawda, Bahrain Haj Mission chairman Shaikh Adnan Al Qattan, and ministry’s assistant under-secretary for Islamic Affairs Dr Shaikh Mohammed Taher Al Qattan.
“Bahrain’s Haj Mission – with all its committees and cadres – has completed all its measures to receive the pilgrims from Bahrain in Saudi Arabia and provide them with all services round-the-clock during the season,” said Mr Al Maawda yesterday.
“The mission includes in its committees a selection of qualified national cadres of competencies and experts from various disciplines and ministries.”
Also present at the farewell were Bahrain Airport Company chief executive Mohammed Al Bin Falah, Foreign Ministry Consular Services Sector Head Ambassador Ebrahim Al Muslamani and Religious Affairs acting director Ali Al Rayes.
The Haj month is expected to start today with Arafah Day on July 8 and Eid Al Adha on July 9.
Bahrain’s Haj quota this year has been fixed at 2,094 pilgrims.
As the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic wanes, Saudi Arabia has opened up the pilgrimage to foreign pilgrims.
Only 1,000 pilgrims from within the kingdom were allowed to participate in the ritual in 2020.
Last year, the pilgrimage was restricted to 60,000 domestic participants.
Haj is one of the world’s largest gatherings and about 2.5 million people performed the religious ritual in 2019.
The pilgrimage must be performed by Muslims at least once in their lifetime if they are financially and physically able.
Meanwhile, Dr Al Qattan told the GDN that 59 licensed religious operators had been asked to merge under eight blocs.
The aim was to make the once-in-a-lifetime compulsory Islamic pillar affordable, while also continuing to provide proper standard services.
“New regulations for the Haj season make it mandatory for at least five operators to merge together, with only one operator being in charge of the collective trip and negotiate with relevant authorities, whether in Bahrain or in Saudi Arabia,” said Dr Al Qattan.
People aged 65 and above have not been issued permits.
“The last day to leave Bahrain is Sunday, so people from Bahrain on Covid-19 quarantine will be taken directly to Mecca and not Medina,” said Al Kadhem Transport Tourist Travels partner Mahmood Al Kadhem, who is leading the biggest bloc of operators.
“We are in negotiations with Gulf Air to make appropriate arrangements as our bloc alone has been hit with 11 cases, with other operators currently in Mecca facing similar numbers,” he told the GDN from Mecca.
“The payments through the Saudi electronic system are non-refundable, so we are working to cut the losses of pilgrims with the cost for the trip being around BD2,500 and BD3,000,” he added.
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