Saudi warns against fraudsters offering Hajj services cheap

Jeddah: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Wednesday cautioned people inside the Kingdom of fraudsters and social media accounts promoting Hajj services at cheap prices, Arab News reported citing Saudi Press Agency.

The ministry released a statement to inform that it had come across many fake accounts and misleading contact information for pilgrims requesting their personal data. The ministry impressed upon that Hajj registration for those inside the Kingdom is done only through the official app "Eatmarna" and website https://localhaj.haj.gov.sa/.

Further, it urged users to report such unauthorised entities promoting Hajj campaigns and promised that such teams would face legal action. It asserted, "The online Hajj portal for domestic pilgrims, set up by the ministry to receive Hajj applications from citizens and residents this year, is the only way to book services from authorised companies and institutions."

It also said that the Hajj registration was overseen in order to ensure the implementation of Covid-19 precautions.

Hajj registration will be alive till June 11, Saturday, the ministry said. To perform Hajj this year, pilgrims must be aged under 65 and must be fully vaccinated with Kingdom approved vaccines.

According to Saudi Arabia's last month's update, it had allowed one million people to join Hajj this year. This is the first time in two years that the Kingdoms allow pilgrims from foreign nations to attend the event after raging Covid-19.