MAKKAH – All foreign pilgrims are required to be at the airport six hours before the scheduled departure of their flights, according to new regulations issued by the Ministry of Haj. Haj companies have been instructed to double check the departure time and coordinate the transportation process. The ministry also asked Haj companies to strictly observe the flight schedules and times of departure for ships and buses. Pilgrims are not allowed to move except in vehicles licensed by the General Car Syndicate (GCS). Pilgrims who want to leave for Madinah by air should also be at the airport six hours in advance. Pilgrims who are leaving for home by sea should go to the seaport 18 hours ahead of the departure time. Hatim Qadhi, spokesman of the Ministry of Haj, said these regulations were decided after extensive meetings between officials from the ministry and the General Authority of Civil Aviation. He also said the ministry will be provided with flight schedules 24 hours in advance and will send the schedules to the GCS and all tawafa establishments. “Non-compliance with the new regulations carries penalties,” said Qadhi. Abdul Wahid Saiful Deen, chairman of the coordination commission for tawafa establishments, said the ministry's mechanisms and departure programs were clear and accurate and that all establishments would comply with them. The last remaining pilgrims performed the stone-throwing rituals Monday in Mina valley. They then headed to Makkah to perform the farewell circumambulation of the Ka'ba before either leaving the Kingdom or proceeding to Madinah. The annual pilgrimage came to a close without any major incidents. The Saudi authorities congratulated the pilgrims, who officially numbered 3.1 million, on a “successful” Haj season, despite a large number having entered the holy sites without proper permits. Officials said about 120,000 police were deployed throughout the five-day pilgrimage, along with an equal number of health and sanitation employees, in what is considered the largest annual human gathering on earth. According to Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah, Haj passed without the spread of any major illness or epidemic.
