Saudi Arabia: the new Hajj organization worries pilgrims

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. For the second consecutive year, Saudi Arabia is setting up a reservation system for the pilgrimage to Mecca. With quotas dropping and new rules being put in place, many believers are worried.

It is one of the pillars of Islam that every Muslim dreams of accomplishing. The Hajj will take place from June 26 to July 1. This year, 7,300 French pilgrims are authorized to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, compared to just over 9,000 in 2022.

Muslims from Europe, Canada and the United States wishing to make this religious trip must first register on a dedicated site, fully managed by the Saudi authorities, in order to obtain a visa for the pilgrimage. With a declining quota, and the new rules put in place, the number of pilgrims will surely decrease. This drop in quotas worries the candidates for the great pilgrimage.

Just like last year, the administrative difficulties are also likely to be numerous for future pilgrims. Indeed, the faithful must register on a single platform called “Nusuk Hajj” to hope to get a reservation. Difficulties in logging in and going through the various stages of online booking, too high prices and too short a payment period, candidates complain of numerous malfunctions preventing them from preparing serenely and spiritually for their pilgrimage.

This obligatory passage, set up in 2022 by the Saudi authorities, thus puts aside the specialized agencies. Until then, the latter organized all the procedures for the visa, the trip, the stay and the religious journey of the pilgrims once they arrived in Mecca. This organization is no longer possible since last year, which tour operators and many Hajj candidates deplore.

RFI