5 decades on, Haj fee still same

JEDDAH: The fee for Haj per foreign pilgrim has not changed for the last 52 years, despite the global inflation rate steadily increasing every year.

A royal decree was issued in 1385 A.H., limiting the Haj fee to only about SR214 per foreign pilgrim. Since then, Tawafa institutions have been charging the same amount.
The fee covers the service offices and the accommodation of pilgrims at the holy sites. However, Haj delegations, Haj affairs offices and organizers in each country are responsible for providing housing in Makkah and Madinah, as per the contracts signed.
Osama Zawawi, vice chairman of Tawafa responsible for Turkey as well as Europe, America and Australia, stressed that Tawafa seeks to continuously improve the services it offers pilgrims.
According to rough calculations, he said, the actual cost of services provided to pilgrims at the holy sites should be SR1,050 each, which is almost five times the fee being charged today.
Zawawi said that Tawafa strives to offer best services in order to achieve high levels of satisfaction among pilgrims, explaining that the organization supervises, manages and follows up on the distribution of housing units to all pilgrims.
Mahmoud Damanhouri, member of the civil institution for Tawafa, said there are additional pilgrimage-related services, such as food, air-conditioning and arrangements inside tents. “These function according to the supply and demand mechanism, and cater to pilgrims with varying financial abilities.”
The cost of these services is paid to the institution according to the contracts and agreements signed, which are supervised by the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, he said.