By Akram Medhat
The rules regulating Hajj for the 1440 AH/2019 season, approved by Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Tourism, and announced by the Higher Committee for Hajj and Umrah, set the date of the tourist Hajj lottery for next March 27, corresponding to 20 Rajab, in addition to the deadline for those wishing to perform the rituals to apply to tourism companies, which began on January 15 and runs until next March 17.
The rules noted that registering pilgrims' names is linked to the opening of the unified portal for pilgrims of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Once the public lottery for all tourist Hajj levels is held and the results are announced, the door will open for partnerships between companies at all levels from March 28 to next April 4, with linking to service packages, inspection of pilgrims' accommodation and authentication of contracts in Saudi Arabia from April 6 to May 5.
In a related context, the rules set each level's share of the visas allocated to tourist Hajj, totaling 36,000 visas of Egypt's total share of Hajj visas. Of these, 35,700 visas are divided among the various levels, while the remaining 300 visas are set aside as a general reserve for the Minister of Tourism to deal with emergencies and correct some situations resulting from the lottery.
Each Hajj program level's share of visas:
Level | Number of visas |
|---|---|
5 stars | 8,800 visas |
4 stars | 2,900 visas |
Economy by air | 12,000 visas |
Overland | 12,000 visas |
The rules also set the maximum number of passports of citizens applying for Hajj programs that each tourism company may register on the Hajj and Umrah website for all levels, as follows:
Tier | Years of experience of companies operating Hajj | Tourist Hajj, 4 and 5 stars | Economy Hajj (air and overland) |
|---|---|---|---|
First | 9 years or more | 80 | 110 |
Second | From 7 to 9 years | 60 | 80 |
Third | First time up to 6 years | 40 | 60 |
It is worth noting that prices of 5-star tourist Hajj programs start from EGP 110,000, 4-star from EGP 90,000 and economy by air from EGP 53,000, excluding airfare, while overland Hajj starts from EGP 55,000.
Under the rules, it was also decided that the booking deposit will be EGP 20,000 for the 5-star tourist level and EGP 15,000 for the 4-star level, while it is EGP 10,000 for the economy and overland levels, according to the mechanism agreed between the Chamber of Tourism Companies and the bank, which allows citizens to deposit and recover the booking deposit, with amounts refunded to those who do not win the lottery within a month at most of the results being announced.
Read also:
Learn About Tourist Hajj Prices for the 1440 AH/2019 Season
Learn About the Hajj Rituals: Their Pillars and How to Perform Them
