32,670 register for Haj

MUSCAT: The electronic registration of potential pilgrims has closed on Sunday with as many as 32,670 Haj aspirants, both citizens and residents, have their names registered on the e-system. These include 22,363 Omanis, 939 Arabs and 368 non-Arabs. Dr Salih bin Said al Hosni, Director of Haj Department at the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, said the ministry has no intention to extend the registration period. This year the Haj authorities in Saudi Arabia have restored the pilgrim quota allocated to the Sultanate to 14,000. Of that total, Omanis will make up 12,664 and 600 will be allocated to Muslim expatriate communities residing in the Sultanate.