RIYADH, 20 August 2005 — The ministry of Haj gave licenses to three new companies offering their services in Haj transportat this year. The three companies will join the group of Haj transport companies with 270 buses costing over SR150 million, Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported. Deputy minister of Haj, Hatim Ghadi, said local Haj institutions would be banned from signing any contracts with outside transportation companies until all local companies were full.