JEDDAH, 28 February — The Ministry of Haj has said extensive efforts over the past years coupled with strict implementation of laws have helped improve housing conditions for pilgrims resulting in less complaints this year.
Ministry officials said the committee entrusted with monitoring housing conditions with real estate agents and landlords in the holy city of Makkah has so far received only 30 complaints -- a modest figure compared to previous years. "This is an indication that the situation has improved considerably," they said.
About two million Muslims perform the annual pilgrimage each year and need to be housed over a limited period of time not exceeding a few weeks in the holy city. Real estate owners report a 30 percent increase in occupancy rate compared to last year with up to 95 percent of residential buildings and furnished apartments in Makkah rented out to pilgrims.
More than 5,000 new licenses were issued for pilgrim accommodation while an additional 1,800 licenses were renewed. The high demand has been attributed to a rise in the number of pilgrims especially those coming from Asian countries which witnessed improved economic conditions compared to previous years.
"Most of the complaints related to money paid by pilgrims toward rent, utilities including water and electricity, cleanliness and hygienic conditions and lost baggage. We are working to resolve these problems as quickly as possible by visiting the sites and discussing the shortcomings with the people concerned," said Sulaiman Shabana, the committee chairman.
The committee, on stand-by round the clock, is made up of representatives from the Ministry of Haj, Makkah Governorate and the Police Department. It has sub-committees to monitor the situation on the ground and file daily reports.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd has instructed government departments to double their efforts and mobilize all necessary material and human resources for the success of the Haj. The Ministry of Haj said it mobilized more than 50,000 volunteers to help in the operation.
Apart from preparing enough buildings to house hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah, a SR2.7 billion ($720 million) project launched three years ago to shelter the pilgrims in fire-proof tents outside Makkah has now been completed. The project covered the installation of 40,000 fire-proof tents, giant water reservoirs to fight any fires, cooling systems and sanitation facilities.
Shabana said special forms had been printed to enable pilgrims file complaints on housing conditions during their stay in Makkah and that every single case would be documented and studied before a ruling was issued.
Violators face penalties including fines and prison terms for up to one month and in the event of repeated violations the landlords will have their licenses revoked. Non-Saudis involved in illegal housing of pilgrims would be deported and blacklisted if convicted.
Field teams from the Ministry of Haj, the police, the Ministry of Trade, the Passports Department and other government departments have been stationed in different locations in Makkah especially in areas close to the Grand Mosque to monitor the performance of real estate offices and fight unlicensed middlemen.
