Expatriates working at the holy hites must get permits to enter the city just like domestic pilgrims, according to Captain Yaser Al-Abdali, head of the Haj Permits Committee at the Jeddah Passports Department. “The permits are not issued for pilgrims only. Expatriates working at the Holy Sites have to get permits that allow them to enter. The directives stipulate that the workers have to carry permits issued by the committee. “This will enable them to move around and work at the sites. The worker should not be wearing Ihram and will be under the responsibility of his employer,” he said. Haj permit committees across the Kingdom have received many applications from workers and pilgrims from various companies, he added. Al-Abdali said the Jeddah committee started its work in the middle of Shawwal. He called on all Haj companies to send their representatives early to get their permits. He said there are a large number of applications at this time of the year, with hundreds of files processed daily. Brigadier Ayed Al-Harbi, Commander of the Haj Passports Forces, said there will again be strict enforcement of the law when it comes to people not carrying permits. Checkpoints will prevent those not carrying permits from entering the Holy Sites to perform Haj or to work. He appealed to everyone to get the proper paperwork before trying to enter Makkah. __
