Saudi authorities to extend this year’s pilgrimage stay

The Saudi authorities have yesterday sent a correspondence to their Algerian counterparts informing them about the extension of the pilgrimage duration to pass from 30 to 45 days due to extension works at Djeddah international airport, reliable sources revealed to Echouorouk.

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• The sudden decision has prompted the religious minister Abdellah Ghoulam Allah to summon the members of the Pilgrimage Office Executive Board, in his quality as the president of this institution, to discuss the appropriate measures likely to cover the extra fees generated by this decision.

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• The minister has in this effect, decided to send his assistants on mid August to Saudi Arabia in order to discuss with the Saudi authorities the flights schedule.

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• The same sources have indicated that the pilgrimage fees will not be affected despite the extension of the sojourn in the holy land due to the reason that the Algerian organizers have fixed all the modalities concerning the stay of the pilgrimage either in Mecca or El Medina, earlier this year.