JEDDAH, 16 December 2002 — The follow-up and monitoring committees of the Haj Ministry have found a number of Umrah establishments violating the rules set by the ministry, Al-Riyadh newspaper reported.,
A number of citizens and expatriates complained that their Umrah establishments had failed to honor the contracts they signed and left them without any accommodation or proper service. The holy month of Ramadan witnessed a high turnout of Umrah worshipers from inside and outside the Kingdom.
Saeed Al-Saeed, a Saudi citizen, explained that an Umrah establishment he had contracted failed to provide housing for his family in Makkah at the beginning of Ramadan although he had paid the company’s fees before their departure to Makkah.
Another citizen asked the ministry to impose heavy penalties on erring Umrah establishments.
Meanwhile, the tripartite committee comprising the ministries of interior, Haj and commerce is expected to apply deterrent penalties against Umrah companies that violate regulations. Such companies could be fined up to SR50,000 and their licenses can be canceled.
In a related development, Director of Haj Department at Jeddah Islamic Port, Fahd Al-Adwami, who is the supervisor of Umrah services, said that his department exerts strenuous efforts to put an end to the tendency of Umrah pilgrims squatting in the port area. A number of Umrah worshipers , who have been waiting at the port, blamed the Umrah establishments of delaying their departure. More than 500,000 Umrah pilgrims are waiting at Jeddah Islamic Port to go home. (SPA)
