Sultanate’s Haj quota restored to 14,000

MUSCAT: The Saudi Haj authorities have decided to bring back the Sultanate’s pilgrim quota to 14,000 after four years of reduction, Oman Arabic, sister daily of the Observer, has learnt. The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs is handling the increase in pilgrim numbers and will announce its plan for the 1438 Hijri year Haj through various media channels. Last Sunday, the ministry has started registration of new Haj companies in accordance with certain regulations thereby opening the door for fair competition among the companies to provide the best services for the pilgrims at concessionary packages. The move revokes a decision taken by the Saudi Haj authorities in 2013 to reduce the Haj quota by 20 per cent from all countries including the Sultanate which saw its pilgrim quota reduced to 11,200 for the past four Haj seasons.