The amnesty period ending on Nov. 3 will reduce the number of illegal pilgrims in the country by 50 percent this year, a Haj and Umrah official said here recently.
Saad Al-Quraishi, chairman of the National Committee for Haj and Umrah at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the number of illegal pilgrims will be reduced by 50 percent because many illegal expats have left the Kingdom under the amnesty period.
A total of 222,299 expats who had overstayed their visit visas and other non-work visas have already left the Kingdom since the beginning of the amnesty period, according to the Passport Department.
Al-Quraishi said strict controls introduced by the Haj authorities would also help reduce the number of illegal pilgrims.
“These procedures will have a positive impact on Haj service establishments that already face a reduced quota of pilgrims this year. Illegal pilgrims do not deal with these establishments. They pretend they have no money to use Haj services. These illegal pilgrims sit and sleep on the roads causing congestion during Haj every year,” he told Arab News.
Ali Saleh Al-Roumi, who works for a Haj establishment, said the amnesty would reduce the number of illegal pilgrims. “Many Umrah visitors stay after their Umrah to work and earn money. They wait for the Haj season to enter the holy city without permits. However, the situation is different this year. A lot of illegal expats have left the Kingdom under the amnesty period.”
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has warned that expatriates violating Haj rules would be deported immediately and banned for 10 years. The governor also warned Saudi drivers carrying illegal pilgrims they would face punishment. Fake Haj service operators will be arrested and face punitive action.
Amnesty to cut illegal pilgrim numbers
