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The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced that it changed the issuance of licenses for residential buildings to the Ministry of Tourism, which excludes a large group of buildings that were receiving pilgrims, while Hajj campaign owners confirmed that the places of residence for Bahrain’s pilgrims are carefully selected and this decision will be in the interest of serving the pilgrims to provide them with the best hotel services.
The text of the announcement issued regarding housing pilgrims for the Hajj season 1447 AH directed to the owners and investors of housing designated for housing pilgrims, stating that the housing committees in Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Medina will stop issuing licenses for housing designated for housing pilgrims, and that housing licenses will be issued for this year by the Ministry of Tourism only.
In order to qualify for renting housing this year through the “Nask Masar” platform of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, this must be preceded by a visit to the electronic platform of the Ministry of Tourism (https://tlg.mt.gov.sa) to issue the necessary licenses for housing in Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Medina in accordance with the approved controls for licensing tourist hospitality facilities (lodge licensing during the Hajj season). “temporary”).
The Ministry indicated that this procedure does not include hotels licensed by the Ministry of Tourism throughout the year “with their various hotel classifications,” as their licenses currently appear on the “Nisk Masar” platform, and they should only activate their electronic accounts on the platform in preparation for enabling them to contract for housing pilgrims.
The Ministry stated that the last date for contracting on the platform for this year is Shaaban 1, corresponding to February 1, 2026, and after this date the Ministry will not allow contracts, regardless of the justifications.
Regarding the impact of the decision on the prices of the announced campaign packages, the official of the Seasons Campaign for Hajj and Umrah, Jassem Abel, confirmed that he offers packages to pilgrims that include hotel accommodation, and does not resort to the option of residential buildings.
He pointed out that the decision will have a positive impact on accommodation services in general for all pilgrims, as Saudi Arabia requires that these residential buildings obtain a hotel license, which will be reflected in the services and rooms.
For his part, the official in charge of the Al-Fajr Hajj and Umrah campaign, Adel Bu Anq, pointed out that the campaign relies in selecting accommodations on distinguished housing that has an accredited certificate and a four-star level, pointing out that the housing of Bahrain’s pilgrims is also subject to inspection and oversight by the Bahrain Hajj and Civil Defense Mission with the security committee before the pilgrims arrive and during their presence.
He stressed that the decision is in favor of the pilgrim and will not have an impact on the package prices, because they were previously determined on the basis of hotel accommodation only.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that licenses for accommodation facilities designated for pilgrims in Mecca and Medina during this year’s Hajj season will be issued through the temporary hostel licensing service launched by the Ministry of Tourism, in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing.
The Ministry stated, according to a statement issued at the beginning of this October, that the request to qualify accommodation facilities for rent in Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Medina via the Ministry’s platform “Pilgrimage Path” during the Hajj season requires visiting the electronic platform of the Ministry of Tourism to issue the necessary licenses, in accordance with the approved requirements for licensing tourist hospitality facilities, before the end of the contracting period through the platform on the 13th of the next month of Shaban.
The statement added that this measure does not include hotels licensed throughout the year by the Ministry of Tourism of various classifications.
