DAMMAM , 22 February - The number of pilgrims from the Eastern Province was nearly 15 percent more than last year, according to officials at the Passports Department. They said this year's Haj operation was more coordinated and organized compared to the previous years.
Almost all first-time pilgrims were granted permission. Some pilgrims, whose requests were turned down due to lack of proper documentation, were eventually allowed to perform the Haj on compassionate grounds by Eastern Province Governor Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd, the officials said.
Prince Muhammad had instructed all the relevant departments to provide all facilities to the local pilgrims as well as those passing through the region.
The Passports Department said that it had anticipated more applications than last year and as a result made preparations to clear them in record time.
The department also beefed up its staff at the four border crossings between Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait.
In addition to the Passports Department, various other government bodies including the municipality, the governorate, King Fahd Causeway Authority and officials of Haj and Endowment took all measures to make the passage for foreign pilgrims safe and comfortable. At the checkpoints in Khafji, Sila and the causeway special tents were set up for the pilgrims.
The transport companies also reported improved business compared to last year. The rates for bus trips varied on the basis of packages on offer. Normally a pilgrim is charged SR675 for a return trip. This does not include accommodation and board at the holy sites.
But many transport companies had prepared several packages, ranging from SR2,500 to SR10,000 suiting various income groups.
Some of the firms, which offered to process permits for aspirant pilgrims, backed out at the last minute putting many people's travel plans in jeopardy.
A group of 17 pilgrims - three Indians and 14 Bangladeshis working for a cleaning and maintenance company - had made contracts with a transport company which offered to obtain permits for them. But on Sunday, the company informed them that it could not get the permits and the workers could not perform Haj this year.
Meanwhile, authorities have completed preparations for Eid Al-Adha prayers in Dammam, Alkhobar, Qatif, Sihat, Ahsa, Khafji and Jubail. The authorities have prepared more than 250 special prayer sites. Prayers will also be held at a number of mosques.
