Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Prince Naif, who is also chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, has dismissed the notion that the Kingdom’s government profits from the pilgrimage.
The prince was speaking in his office in Makkah after receiving Minister of Haj Fouad Al-Farsy and other Haj officials.
He said: “Some may think that the Kingdom reaps profit from the Haj and Umrah pilgrims. But the fact is we offer service to them free of charge except for housing, food and transportation. What is important is obedience to Allah, and offering whatever better service we can to those brothers and sisters coming from every corner of the Muslim world.”
The prince said a number of heads of states have expressed their admiration over the satisfactory manner in which the Kingdom has been handling millions of pilgrims who come for Haj and Umrah every year.
Prince Naif welcomed pilgrims from all parts of the world and commended the services offered by various Haj establishments in the two holy cities to ensure the ease and comfort of pilgrims coming in large numbers every year.
“The Kingdom welcomes pilgrims from all over the world,” prince said. “Our service to the pilgrims speaks for itself about its quality. Still we need to offer better service. The government is coming up with new projects to serve the pilgrims even better every year.”
The prince also welcomed suggestions regarding pilgrim services from the officials of Tawafa establishments and the Higher Haj Committee.
Al-Farsy met Prince Naif to discuss Haj matters. Those who attended the meeting included undersecretaries of the Ministry of Haj, officials of Tawafa establishments, guides and the Zamzam department.
