Al-Qalam 
Source: Arabian Business
It’s such a sad and painful time!
The Saudi Government has stipulated that pilgrims intending to perform Hajj from Western Countries now need to apply online through a government website named Motawif.
After months of uncertainty the role of The Hajj operator has now become obsolete!
The way it works is that once registered online, the aspiring Hajee would be selected through a lottery system. Once approved, pilgrims can then go ahead and select their package and make payment via credit card. Packages offered are not that which Hujaaj are accustomed to. Some packages that are offered leave little to choose from. Hotels are a distance from The Haram and flights are monopolised, meaning that travel to The Kingdom must be strictly on Saudi Arabian Airlines.
The prices of these packages come across as being inflated and there is little to no clarification as to how passengers will be transported, who will guide Pilgrims spiritually and how a Pilgrim chooses a package which includes Madinah.
Prices also seem to be a little crazy. For example, the following are costs for the five days of Hajj. In Camp A: SAR18, 592.75 (approx R74, 000 pp), Camp D: SAR5,655,12 (approx R22,500 pp). These include meals and drinks.
There have been reports of pilgrims suffering anxiety due to lack of transparency. The so called state of the art website has sent out spam emails to all on its database, and crashed on numerous occasions. This booking system has left people confused and frustrated. Those who had been successful with the application and paid the exorbitant prices had been left to drop everything and proceed.
Many operators have been providing a personal service to pilgrims for as many as 30 years and are now devastated with this outcome. Hajj operators had paid deposits prior to COVID and intended to utilise these funds for Hajj 2020.
Agents and hoteliers agreed to hold funds in credit and defer arrangements until Hajj was open to the world. Now many agents have to diversify and look for other means of income to recoup their funds, leaving many in deep financial distress.
The travel fraternity in the West had petitioned and rallied their governments to intervene in securing their role as Hajj Operators.
Is the “lottery” system now going to be the new normal for our brothers and sisters in Western countries? Is it possible that in the future the Saudis may adopt that same system in South Africa?
I shudder to think. Ya Allah help us
Ridwaan Khan
Overport, Durban
