Addressing a press conference at the ministry premises, Shaikh Abdulnasser Abdullah, Chairman of the Hajj and Umrah Affairs and General Secretary of Bahrain Hajj Mission, said that registering the names in advance would help the government serve these pilgrims better.
The Hajj mission head said that seven agents were chosen to serve the non-Bahrainis travelling on pilgrimage. “The seven agents include, Al Eman, Bu Faisal, Al Dossary, Al Sahaba, Al Kahtami, Al Risala and Al Qurainis,” said Abdullah.
Each Hajj agency was allowed to serve 186 non-Bahrainis, he said and added that 1,300 had already registered.
Including the Bahrainis, the total number of pilgrims currently registered was 8,700, headed. These pilgrims were being served by 48 agencies, said the pilgrimage head.
Although each agency was allotted 186 pilgrims, the ministry decided to relax it by 50per cent more he said. “We are expecting the overall numbers to exceed last year’s figure of near 14, 000,” said the mission head.
The Bahrain mission has enhanced the services offered to all pilgrims proceeding to Hajj as part of the Bahrain mission, he added.
Once at the site of the pilgrimage, each person will be allotted 75 centimeter, said the general secretary. Registering the names in advance would result in better facilities for the pilgrims, he added. “They would not have to worry about accommodation or any other facility. Depending on the numbers registered the facility would be expanded and that would be done by the agents in consultation with the official mission stationed there,” said the mission head.
“Till last year the Bahrain Hajj mission offered its services to those who had been travelling with them for long, while the new pilgrims would have to find a place after they reached there. However, this year the mission has decided to hold all the pilgrims from Bahrain under one umbrella,” said Adullah.
He said this would ensure uniform facilities for all Hajis in the Bahrain team. In addition the agents would be asked to distribute the camps for the pilgrims in both Mina and Ara’afa.
The agencies authorized to serve the Hajj pilgrims will ensure that accommodation facilities are arranged and whenever necessary they liaise with the Saudi authorities to find more areas for the pilgrims, said Abdulla.
“We are sure there will be need to find extra space because the area now allotted is 7641square meter of land in Mina. It can accommodate 5,000 Hajis,” the mission head said.
He added that the area reserved for the Bahrain mission was also changed from the past. “There are more facilities at the new location in Mecca,” said Abdulla.
The new facility has general services offices in addition to an extension of the Bahrain embassy in Saudi Arabia. There will also be better medical facilities –including a more spacious clinic, added the Hajj mission head.
The areas taken by the agencies to extend the camp as and when the necessity falls, will be closer to the mission, so that there is greater cooperation with the mission authorities, he added.
“The Bahrain mission is also in contact with the Gulf Air to facilitate better airline facilities for the pilgrims,” said the mission head.
The agencies on their own are negotiating with Saudia and other airlines to facilitate more air travel for the pilgrims, he added.
The Hajj mission in Bahrain serves as the mode for serving the pilgrims and coordinating with all the organizations and authorities concerned so that there is no hiccup anywhere, he added.
The mission is also in contact with the Ministry of Hajj in Saudi Arabia to ensure that the Bahrain pilgrims are given the best possible help.
It is as part of this help, that the stone throwing performed by the Hajjis has been reorganized for those who visit from Bahrain, he added. Pilgrims from Bahrain will keep away from performing this function during peak hours of 12.00 pm to2.00 pm.
“Those from the Bahrain camp will perform this rite after ma’aghreb or at night,” said Abdulla.
He was joined by Shaikh Adnan Al Qahtan Chairman of the Bahrain Hajj Mission and Dr Mohammed Tahar, Director of Religious Affairs.