The fourth stage of the Haj Transportation Project, which is expected to be completed soon, will reduce the travel time between Arafat and Muzdalifah to about 45 minutes, as compared to up to eight hours in the past. Implementation of this phase includes preparing routes allocated for movement and transport of[…]
According to media reports in Saudi Arabia, Hajj operators may soon be required to take on the additional task of shipping the luggage of hujaaj to and from the Saudi Kingdom. Addressing the reports, chairperson of the South African Travellers and Hajj Operators Association (Sathoa), Sedick Steenkamp, said such an[…]
With the school holidays now underway, the Saudi Kingdom will see a surge in the number of South African families performing umrah over the festive season. The South African Travel and Haj Operators Association (Sathoa) estimates that 10 000 South Africans will perform umrah over the December-January holiday period. The[…]
Over the next two weeks South African hujjaj will have the opportunity to submit any complaints held from this year’s pilgrimage to the South African Haj and Umrah Council (Sahuc), be it directed at the local hajj authority or any of the 16 hajj tour groups that operated this year.[…]
There is a general misunderstanding as to how the umrah industry in South Africa operates, according to the president of the South African Travel and Haj Operators Association (Sathoa), Sedick Steenkamp. The local hajj and umrah fraternity has often faced scrutiny from the community over the manner in which the[…]
With Haj 1436 done and dusted and attention now directed at the coming umrah season, the local travel industry is anticipating a boom in South Africans making their way to the holy lands. With thousands set to undertake the pilgrimage in the coming months, particularly over the busy festive season[…]
AP said on Monday that at least 2,110 people died in the tragedy at the annual Hajj pilgrimage – far more than the official Saudi death toll of 769. The new figure comes from media reports and statements from 30 countries who lost citizens, AP said. The crush was the[…]
Saudi Arabia has decided to triple the number of umrah visas issued every year, referring the sharp increase to the new expansions in the haram area. “We are going online as an ambitious plan to double the number of Umrah pilgrims during the next five years,” Hajj Minister Bandar Al-Hajjar[…]
Saudi Arabia’s king has rejected suggestions his country should give up its role as organiser of the Hajj pilgrimage, following last month’s deadly stampede. King Salman said he would not allow any “hidden hands” to politicise the tragedy and divide Muslims. An Iranian cleric had called for the Hajj to[…]
A fresh tally of casualties killed in a stampede near Mecca last month has raised the death toll to 1,453, making this year’s incident the deadliest recorded during the hajj. The figure, compiled by the Associated Press, was gathered from officials and statements by 19 countries whose citizens were declared[…]
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