Saudi Arabia begins operational activities as Hajj 2024 draws near

RIYADH – The authorities in Saudi Arabia have recently announced the commencement of operational activities for this year’s Hajj season.

The Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah made the announcement at the conclusion of a four-day Hajj and Umrah Services Conference held in Jeddah.

The conference aimed to highlight Saudi Arabia’s exclusive projects for Allah’s guests, underlining a dedication to improve service quality for Hajj and Umrah.

The conference also focused on easing the arrival of pilgrims and Umrah performers globally, emphasizing a commitment to providing enhanced services for these sacred journeys.

During this event, numerous groundbreaking services and technologies were introduced, aligning with the goal outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.

At the end of the conference, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah expressed gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, for graciously sponsoring the third edition of the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition.

The Saudi government is finalizing the arrangements for the upcoming Hajj and is concluding Hajj agreements formally in this regard. Most of the countries have already inked Hajj agreements including Pakistan.

In terms of seat allocation, Pakistan has secured approximately 179,000 Hajj seats, and half of these will be filled by private Hajj operators.

As far as the details of Hajj 2024 are concerned, the government has introduced a short Hajj package, ensuring completion within 25 days. Priced at Rs 80, 000 more than the Long Hajj package, the cost for Short Hajj stands at Rs 1,140, 000 for individuals from the southern region(Burewala, Bhakkar, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Jhang, and Dera Ghazi Khan) and Rs 1,150, 000 for those from the northern areas (Mansehra, Naran, Kaghan, Gilgit, Chilas, Passu and Karimabad).

For the Long Hajj package, pilgrims will have an extended journey lasting up to 42 days, with eight of those days spent in Medinah. Departing from southern parts like Karachi, Quetta, and Sukkur, the cost of this experience is Rs 1,065,000. For those departing from the northern parts (Mansehra, Naran, Kaghan, Gilgit, Chilas, Passu, and Karimabad) the cost is slightly higher at Rs 1,075, 000.

Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, obligatory for all Muslims who can afford it. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Pilgrims perform a series of rituals, symbolizing unity, equality, and spiritual cleansing.