JEDDAH, 3 January 2006 — Saudi authorities reported that they have set up special offices across the country to issue Haj permits to Saudis and expatriates intending to perform the pilgrimage this year.
“We are receiving a large number of applications every day from representatives of Haj service companies,” said Capt. Abdullah Al-Anazi, head of the committee in charge of issuing Haj permits in Jeddah.
The Jeddah office is located at the deportation center in the Old Airport area.
“We issue the permits after receiving the applications on the same day, working overtime,” Al-Anazi told Arab News.
He said modern technology had played a big role in speeding up the issuing process and preventing forgery.
“We don’t issue Haj permits to those who have performed Haj during the past five years. Applications of such people will be rejected,” he explained.
He said prospective applicants should take the vaccination against meningitis and produce a certificate proving their blood group. They are also required to have contracted with a Haj service company.
“We have informed all Saudis and expatriates in advance that they should get a Haj permit if they want to perform Haj,” he said.
Al-Anazi said his office was linked with the Haj Ministry with a computer system and would issue permits in accordance with the directives of the ministry.
