JEDDAH, 11 November 2007 — The Ministry of Haj has allocated 259 campsites in Mina for domestic pilgrims who will participate in this year’s Haj, a top official from one of the service companies said yesterday.

The 259 camps have a capacity to house 219,782 people and are divided into seven categories depending on their proximity to the Jamrat area, said Abdul Rahman Al-Siraj, vice president of Itqan for Haj Services, speaking to the Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper.

Al-Siraj estimated the market volume of this year’s domestic Haj at about SR1 billion, which will be divided among around 300 licensed domestic Haj operators. The total number of pilgrims this season is expected to exceed 2.5 million.

“Domestic Haj operators have started advertising their services in the media and on billboards at public places. These companies offer different types of packages. The charges for the medium level service per pilgrim range from SR1,400 to SR2,000 by land and from SR4,800 to SR9,000 by air,” said Al-Siraj.

Some companies offer luxury services, such as airport pickups and accommodation at deluxe suites in Makkah, at a cost of up to SR100,000 per pilgrim.

To attract customers, many companies advertise the names of popular scholars who accompany the group to give lectures and clarify doubts on Haj-related issues.

However, religious scholars generally disapprove of the extravagance while performing Haj. “The pilgrim enduring hardship for the sake of Allah is one of the factors that add to the piety and reward. Haj operators should not be motivated by profiteering alone,” Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper quoted one scholar as saying.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Prince Naif has approved regulations for private vehicles carrying pilgrims to Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Registration of such vehicles at the traffic department will start on Nov. 17 and continue until Dec. 15. According to the rules, vehicles that can carry 15 people or more should obtain permits from the ministries of transport and Haj, and must be owned by a Pilgrim Transport Company or a domestic Haj service agency. Only individuals, not companies, can apply for permits for vehicles that have nine to 15 seats.

Vehicles that can carry more than 16 passengers should pass special MVPI tests for Haj and only the owners or authorized people should drive such vehicles.