The Ministry of Endowments, Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites will start distributing Hajj permits through its directorates, starting today, Saturday, and until the first of next April.

The Minister of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites, Muhammad al-Khalayleh, said that the share of Jordanians from the Hajj season for the current year amounts to 8,000 pilgrims, explaining that all those registered to perform the Hajj were accepted from those born in 1950 or younger.

He added, during a press conference last Wednesday, to announce the arrangements related to the Hajj season for the current year (1444 AH / 2023 AD), that the Palestinians’ share of the 1948 lands of Hajj for this season amounts to 4,500 pilgrims, explaining that the Ministry set for the first time the prices for the distinguished Hajj, and they range between 5 thousand and 9 thousand. Dinar.

Al-Khalayleh explained that the Hajj and Umrah Department began preparing for the Hajj season by preparing instructions for Hajj affairs for this season, and approving them according to the duly approved by the Endowment Council, which includes conditions for accrediting Hajj offices and specifications for housing, transportation and camps.

He pointed out that the Department of Hajj and Umrah adopted two categories for the specifications of housing and transportation, the first is distinguished by 5-star hotels, and its distance does not exceed (500) meters from the courtyards of the Haram, and in Medina within the central area and at a distance not exceeding (400) meters from the courtyards of the Prophet’s Mosque. Sharif and air transportation only.

Al-Khalayleh added that the second consists of two levels, the first is 5-star hotels that are no more than (2) kilometers away from the Haram squares in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, with transportation insurance as possible, and in Medina within the central area, and the second level: very good hotels, whose distance does not exceed (1500) meters from the Haram squares in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, and in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah within the central area.

In the field of transportation, Al-Khalayleh said that, in the interest of the ministry to achieve the best service, the ministry has identified modern bus models (2014) and above for the European and local origin, and a model (2019) and above for the other origin. In addition, the ministry, in cooperation with the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Department, has formed A technical inspection committee for buses before the pilgrims travel and during their travel and presence in Saudi Arabia.

And he indicated that the Hajj and Umrah offices, which number about (150), submitted requests for accreditation and rented hotels for the second category according to the approved specifications, and 5-star hotels were rented within the same category in the first level, not more than (2) kilometers away from the Haram squares, and for an additional amount not exceeding The cost for the second level is more than (350) dinars for the pilgrim by land, and for the second level within the regions (Al-Hafayer, Jisr Al-Mansour, Jarwal, Al-Misfalah).

Al-Khalayleh indicated that about 30,000 citizens were registered on the website of the Hajj and Umrah Department. Newborns from 6/30/1950 and below were chosen according to the criterion of the oldest. /12/1960 who made the initial registration for Hajj.

The minister explained that the costs of the pilgrim to the land within the second category range between (2828-3008) dinars by regular bus, and it varies from one coalition to another according to the hotel and its proximity to the Haram and its level, and an amount of up to (125) dinars is added in the event of choosing a VIP bus, and as for air travel The cost ranges between (2859-3039) dinars, and the price of the plane ticket is added to this amount. The cost of the first level of the second category (5-star hotels) ranges between (3283-3390) dinars by road.

And he continued, as for the first (distinguished) category, the prices range between (5000-9000) dinars, depending on the level of the hotel, the additional services provided, and the number of beds in one room, and the price of the travel ticket is added, indicating that all the costs mentioned above include the price of the gift that the ministry will contract with in order to preserve Hajj interest.

He drew attention to the fact that the new services added for this season included hotels of a very good standard, with a capacity of no more than (1000) pilgrims, as some of these hotels are new and were not previously inhabited, and the improvement of the catering service (meals) in hotels, and the demand from offices that It rented hotels in the Jarwal area to secure transportation from the hotels to the sanctuary, and to improve catering services in the holy sites so that meals are fresh.

It also included changing the sofa bed to become a kickstand, increasing the number of health courses, creating an application for smart phones (the Jordanian pilgrim application) to facilitate communication with pilgrims and providing services and instructions, and using smart assistant software through the WhatsApp application to communicate with pilgrims effectively, and issuing a permit. An electronic Hajj for those who have been selected, and an electronic brochure for the offices of the two categories.

The minister said that administrative and guidance missions from the Ministry of Awqaf for Hajj, and medical missions from the Ministry of Health, and media to cover the season, will accompany the pilgrims as usual, explaining that these missions will be outside the quota of pilgrims allocated to Jordan.

Al-Khalayleh indicated that the reasons for the high cost of Hajj this year compared to last year are due to the high cost of some services that are provided to pilgrims inside Saudi Arabia, praising the role of Hajj and Umrah companies, which are a key partner of the Ministry in preparing for the Hajj season.

With regard to the specified percentage for those saving in the Hajj Fund, Al-Khalayleh said that the percentage amounted to 20% of the quota allocated to the Kingdom, where everyone who completes his savings in the fund is entitled to 3,500 dinars, and a female who wants to accompany a Mahram to 6000 dinars before the date of August 20, 2017.

The Director General of the Department of Hajj and Umrah, Majdi Al-Batoush, said that the pilgrims who meet the registration criteria until the date of the first of July 1957, and the beneficiaries of the lottery will receive messages on their mobile phones, calling on those who obtained the Hajj visa to register through the approved Hajj coalitions, and whose names will receive a message to whom The age and the savings in the Hajj Fund, who were selected through the lottery, applied to him.

During the press conference, the Department of Hajj and Umrah conducted a lottery to select a thousand people whose date of birth ranges from July 1, 1950 to 1960.

(The kingdom)