Qatar's Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs is opening registration for those wishing to perform Hajj in the 1448 AH season from 20 September to 20 October, through the official Hajj website hajj.gov.qa.
Ali Sultan Al-Misifri, Director of the Hajj and Umrah Affairs Department at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, said Qatar's quota for the 1448 AH Hajj season is 4,400 pilgrims, adding that opening registration early allows Hajj campaigns to complete their contracts and operational arrangements in good time, according to a post on the Qatar News Agency website.
He noted that the registration conditions for Qatari citizens require applicants to be at least 18 years old, with the option of adding up to 3 companions on a single application.
For residents and citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, applicants must be at least 45 years old and must not have performed Hajj before, with the option of adding only one companion, in addition to a requirement of continuous residence in Qatar for at least 15 years.
Al-Misifri stressed that companions must be included in the main application from the start of registration, to avoid any obstacles that could affect the acceptance process later.
For his part, Dr. Hamad Al-Rumaihi, head of the medical unit of the Qatari Hajj mission, said obtaining the health fitness certificate ("medically fit") is the first step for those wishing to register for Hajj, as part of the approved acceptance requirements.
He added that the certificate will be available at all health centers in Qatar, where the applicant undergoes a medical examination and the result is then recorded electronically in the health system linked to the Hajj and Umrah Affairs Department.
This season's registration system includes electronic payment mechanisms that allow pilgrims to complete their contracts with accredited Hajj campaigns through the platform.
Al-Misifri said pilgrims will pay an amount through the electronic system when completing registration, with the value to be announced later. He stressed that this amount is not a registration fee but an advance payment deducted from the final price of the contracted Hajj program.
He noted that the final cost varies from one campaign to another depending on the level of services provided, including accommodation, transport, catering and support services.
All Hajj campaigns licensed and accredited for the season will be available on the Hajj website, and the ministry has set up hotline 132 to receive inquiries, comments and complaints.
Electronic screening of applications begins immediately after registration closes on 20 October, with acceptance notifications and approvals to be sent to registrants by text message to the phone numbers registered in the system from the end of October.
The ministry noted that the early registration coincides with the timetable approved by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to prepare for the season, which includes allocating country quotas, completing accommodation, catering and transport contracts, and opening the electronic tracks for campaign procedures.
To view the post on the Qatar News Agency website, click here.
