KSA's Haj E-Portal accessed by over 1 million citizens and residents

The KSA Ministry of Haj and Umra's e-portal has exceeded 1 million visits, and the same is expected of its e-portal for domestic pilgrims. In the first 72 hours of operation nearly 100,000 citizens and residents of both sexes have registered at the domestic Haj pilgrims e-portal for the Hajj 2016 (1437) season, the ministry said.

This year, the Hajj pilgrims' e-portal enables citizens and residents to select the service provider, the programme, and the price as they wish. The ministry has also provided additional capabilities such as the Sadad payment system and the Yaqeen data verification service. Cancellations are accepted this year through the portal, along with refunds.

The Ministry of Haj and Umra provides services spanning the entire Hajj as follows:

1. At the towers in Mina on the foothills, and inside its shari'ah area

2. The first service segment at the camps;
3. The first service segment at the camps, along with accommodation in Makkah;

4. The second service segment at the camps;
5. The second service segment at the camps, along with accommodation in Makkah;

6. The third service segment at the camps; and
7. The third service segment at the camps, along with accommodation in Makkah.

The implementation of the Hajj pilgrims' e-bracelet scheme begins this year. Part of the electronic transformation programme launched by HE the Minister of Haj and Umra, Dr Mohammed Saleh bin Taher Bentin, the e-bracelets are designed to identify Haj pilgrims quickly and to provide context when providing help. Available information on Hajj pilgrims will be accessible through all smartphones and tablets via an app available to all Ministry of Haj and Umra employees serving pilgrims and visitors, as well as to the employees of other service and security sectors.

Pilgrims Affairs Offices in the different countries from which Hajj pilgrims originate are to provide pilgrims' data before their arrival in KSA. The e-bracelet will include the following data: border number; visa Number; Passport number; plus access to the Hajj pilgrims' data in the ministry's database. Such data includes the pilgrim's photograph, the data of the entrusted with their service; the data of the residence in Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites; and the phone numbers of the concerned with Haj service.

The initiative will help to improve performance in the Hajj and umrah sector, reduce time taken on procedures, increase transparency, and make more information available to all the involved agencies.

KSA announces first Hajj pilgrims' arrival, domestic e-portal enhancements

The Director of the Branch of Ministry of Haj and Umra in Jeddah, Abdullah Mohammed Marghalani, has received the first Hajj pilgrims in Jeddah, KSA on behalf of HE Dr Mohammed Saleh Bentin, the Minister of Haj and Umra for the 2016 season as part of the annual official receptions of Hajj pilgrims and visitors to Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque).

The first flight of 260 Hajj pilgrims arrived on August 4 (1/11/1437, Islamic calendar) in Jeddah. Six batches followed that day, and are expected to continue until the arrival season ends on 4 Dhul-Hijjah, which should be around 6 September depending on when the new moon is sighted.

According to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), this year's pre-Hajj operations begin August 4 and end on September 5. Post-Hajj operations start from September 17 and last till October 16. Around 50,000 hujjaj will be transported on PIA flights this year. In the umrah season this year PIA reported that it transported 254,803 passengers on its flights, which included 375 extra flights in addition to regular flight operation. For umrah season 2015, 150,740 passengers were transported on PIA flights.

The Ministry separately began accepting domestic pilgrims' applications for Hajj permits for the current Hajj season through the e-portal that was launched last year. The e-portal is designed to simplify the procedures for requesting permits by Hajj domestic pilgrims, both citizens and residents. Registration and contracting for the domestic Hajj pilgrim services may only be carried out via the e-portal in accordance with the ministry's new strategy towards improving the services provided to domestic pilgrims.

This year, new services added to the e-portal include the ability to select the service provider, package and pricing. For the 2016 (1437) Hajj season, the KSA Ministry of Haj and Umra provides seven packages:

• The first service segment at the towers (currently established in Mina on the foothills, and inside its shari'ah space);
• The first service segment at the camps;
• The first service segment* at the camps, along with housing service in Makkah;
• The second service segment at the camps;
• The second service segment* at the camps, along with housing service in Makkah;
• The third service segment at the camps; and
• The third service segment* at the camps, along with housing service in Makkah.

In addition to these programmes, low-cost Hajj and affordable Hajj packages are provided. The e-portal will also allow the purchase of optional services provided by third parties. 

A new cancellation policy is also available on the e-portal. Terms and conditions apply, including the fees payable for cancellation, depending on the date cancelled, and how much of the package amount may be refunded. Cancellations requested on or after 7 Dhul-Hijjah, for instance, will require additional fees payable but no money from the package will be refunded.

The ministry stresses that with its adoption of the domestic pilgrims' e-portal, contracts made by and between the parties to such contracts, after paying the package fees will be valid, without physically signing the same contract. In addition, paying any other amount that is not included in either the e-portal contract or through the approved payment mechanism, is a violation of the agreement. More than 2,000 companies are currently serving domestic pilgrims. This includes 10 companies providing an affordable Hajj, which retains basic rights with regards to accommodation, food and beverage but excludes residence at Mina.

The e-portal was most recently been updated with two services. The Yakeen service allows verification of the portal visitor's data, confirming the applicants' personal data is correct, and reduces the amount of information that needs to be entered. Sadad is a payment system that accepts booking payments and provides payment confirmations.

Interested?

KSA citizens and residents may access the domestic pilgrims' e-portal till 7 Dhul-Hijjah at 8am, subject to moon-sighting

+View available domestic packages for Hajj (PDF)

Read the Suroor Asia blog posts on umrah 2016 and the domestic e-portal