Over 39,500 register in Haj portal on first day

 As many as 39,594 Saudis and expatriates have registered in the Haj Ministry's e-gate for domestic pilgrims only eight hours after it was officially launched on Sunday.

According to the ministry's undersecretary Hussain Al-Sharif, more than 18,000 pilgrims have completed their registration in the gate for the low-cost Haj in a matter of two hours.

"More than 130,700 people have browsed the gate on its first day," he added.

"Registration in the e-gate is continuing with great zeal. Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar is personally following up the process," he said.

The undersecretary said the gate will put an end to fake Haj groups and will enable pilgrims to choose the company that offers convenient services to them at affordable prices.

"The pilgrim can now complete all his Haj arrangements including registration with a local service-providing company and payment of the cost sitting in the comfort of his home or office," he said.

Sharif said some companies have not provided the ministry with complete data including their bank accounts so the program was not activated for them.

17,700 buses

Meanwhile, about 18 national transport companies have prepared a fleet of 17,700 buses, consisting of 1,696 brand new ones, for the transportation of about 1.3 million foreign pilgrims between Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites.

Chairman of the General Syndicate of Cars Ahmed Simbawah said all the busses are ready to transport the pilgrims.

He said the Haj minister has approved three new companies with a combined fleet of 150 buses to enter the service this year.

Marwan Bin Rashid Zibaidi, spokesman for the syndicate, said every year a number of buses are put on retirement because of aging.

"We are constantly renewing the fleet to ensure the pilgrims with easy and comfortable transport," he said.

The spokesman said there are 24,000 seasonal jobs available for Saudis to work as drivers, mechanics or electricians at feasible monthly salaries ranging between SR3,500 and SR4,500.

"Unfortunately only 107 Saudi young men have applied for these jobs therefore we have opened the door for foreign recruitment," he said.