Abu Dhabi, July 03: The General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Auqaf has submitted a request to Saudi Arabia to increase the UAE’s quota of pilgrims from 6,228 to 16,000 for this year’s Haj season.
Mohammed Obeid Al Mazrouie, head of the official UAE Haj Mission, told Khaleej Times that he expected the Saudi authorities to respond positively to the UAE’s request given the friendly bilateral ties.Al Mazrouie, also Executive Director of Islamic Affairs at the authority, added that Saudi Arabia increased the UAE’s quota of pilgrims from 6,000 to 10,000 last year.
Hamad bin Yusouf Al Mualla, Director, Haj and Umrah, said the authority had fixed the number of expatriate resident pilgrims at 1,000 and UAE pilgrims at 5,228.
“The assigned quota is for the UAE pilgrims only and expatriate residents should go to the holy lands within the quota of their home countries,” he clarified.
He added that 180 Haj tour operators were given the nod to carry pilgrims from the UAE to the holy lands this year.
It has allowed every four Haj contractors to merge into one major campaign. “Every 50 pilgrims should be attended by a doctor and an administrator,” he added.
-Agencies