Egyptian drivers will operate the electric trains of the Mashair Railway.
"The workers are veterinary doctors, butchers, drivers and other specialized workers," said Rashad Al-Fayoumi, chairman of Al-Jazira Al-Misria Co., which specializes in exporting seasonal workers.
"Recruitment and export of the seasonal manpower takes three months beginning shortly before Ramadan," he said.
Saudi Haj service companies meet the salary and other expenses of the imported labor, which run to more than SR30,000,000, he added. "The number of seasonal workers for Haj increased from 5,000 last year to 27,000 this year and this shows the trust of Saudi authorities in Egyptian workers," said Egyptian Minister of Manpower and Immigration Aysha Abdul Hadi. The minister added that the workers were selected from 50,000 applicants.
Bus driver Montaser Abd El-Nasser said he has come to the Kingdom as a seasonal driver for the sixth time in a row. "I am happy to work for Haj pilgrims even though I will have to work for 18 hours continuously during the peak days," he said.
Foreign drivers are imported because the Saudi Car Syndicate, which is responsible for transport buses for pilgrims, does not find sufficient number of Saudi drivers. The syndicate has been advertising for Saudi drivers for several months but has received only a few hundred drivers.
