Saudi Arabia Refuses to Lift Algerians' Quota for Hajj

According to the preliminary report that is prepared by the special envoy of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the National Office for the Hajj and Umrah, to the Holy sites, the number of Algerian pilgrims for the season 2016 will not rise, because of the continuing works to expand the Grand Mosque, while the delegation confirmed the stability of prices hotels’ renting until the time, which augurs well not to raise the pricing of pilgrimage if the situation continues as it is.

A source from the Ministry of religious Affairs and Endowments told Echorouk, that the Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Mohamed Issa, who is still accompanying the delegation in charge of negotiations in the holy sites, discussed, at the meeting, which brought him together with the Saudi Minister of Hajj, last Sunday, the issue of lifting Algerian pilgrims’ quota for this season, which he said it will be fixed and will not know increases, in contrast Algerian delegation will remain in the holy sites until next week, where Mohamed Issa held a series of meetings with the Saudis dealers in order to negotiate the prices and services that are provided, especially since their number has reached 60 operators, who had deposited their offerings at the Algerian consulate, while the minister received, on Tuesday, representatives of the Algerian tourist agencies, which began renting buildings for the delegation.

As for the final cost of the Hajj, which is expected to be announced in March, it will be balanced, according to the same source, which added that it will be decided according to the final report, that will be deposited by the delegation that is returning from Saudi Arabia, on the accommodation costs and prices of hotels, that notice to the very moment a stable situation, and the pricing of the pilgrimage of this year is likely to equal the pricing of last year.