Hajj Pilgrimage 2016: “Priority granted to tourist agencies closer to airports”

The Office of Hajj and Umrah has decided to alter the method of selection of tourist agencies involved in the organization of the 2016 pilgrimage season on the basis of the latter’s proximity to airports and not on the principle of geographical location like it was used to be in the past years in a bid to curb the agencies’ excesses and lapses as registered during the previous Hajj rituals in the holy places of Islam in Mecca and Medina.

As a result, the provinces of the eastern part of Algeria will grab the lion’s share in this agencies’ selection compared to the Western regions of the country given the superiority in numerical terms of the concentration of eastern airports.

Concerning the overall cost of the Hajj or pilgrimage, it will be determined by the Algerian dinar exchange rate, compared to the Saudi Riyal as early as next February, according to reliable sources from the Hajj and Umrah office in Algiers.

Meanwhile, in a similar context, the Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Mohamed Aissa announced earlier this week that the administrative procedures for

those eager to perform the Hajj pilgrimage would be devolved upon the country’s municipalities starting from the year 2017.

Successful candidates for the pilgrimage in 2017 will deposit their files for processing at the municipality level, the minister said.

Mr Mohamed Aissa also announced that the random electronic draw for the Hajj pilgrimage is expected in 2016 or at the latest in 2017 for more fairness and transparency.

The Office of Hajj and Umrah will undertake an awareness-raising campaign in this regard, the minister added.