There has been an increase of 2.5 per cent in the number of applicants for those wishing to perform Haj in 2024, according to the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs (MoARA).
The registration, which closed on Sunday, began on October 22 and lasted for two weeks and recorded as many as 34,126 registrations till Sunday which include 31,064 Omanis and 3,062 expatriates.
“There has been an overwhelming response from those aspiring to carry out this year’s (Hijri 1445) Haj. The ministry and the online portal received 34,126 registrations which included 3,062 expatriates as well as 31,064 Omanis till Sunday,” Ali al Hattali, spokesperson of the ministry told the Observer.
Like in the previous years, Muscat recorded the largest number of applicants (5,373) while Musandam reported (172) the lowest applicants. Although there has been a substantial increase in the number of applicants in all governorates, Dhofar, Musandam and Al Sharqiyah South reported a decline in the number of applicants.
“However, we will be choosing 14,000 people from the total number of applicants to perform this year’s Haj through the ministry and preference will be given to first timers as well as people suffering from chronic diseases and cancer,” Ali al Ghafri from the Department of Haj and Umrah told the Observer.
This number is based on an agreement with the General Authority for Awqaf of Saudi Arabia where it was agreed to maintain the status quo of pre-Covid time number of Haj pilgrims.
Provisions are also in place to send more applicants from visually-impaired sector, elderly, cancer patients and disabled people who wish to perform Haj.
During the last Haj season in June 2023, the online portal received 33,536 applications including 29,930 requests from Omanis, and 3,606 requests from residents to perform Haj rituals which was held in the first week of June this year.
“Nonetheless, only 14,000 people, constituting nearly fifty per cent of the applicants, from Oman were able to perform Haj in 2023 through registration on MoARA portal,” he added. He further said that those who are selected electronically through the e-sorting and e-selection process, will be contacted directly and will have five days to contact through the electronic system with Haj companies to take further steps in order to process their documentation.
34,126 registrations till Sunday include 31,064 Omanis and 3,062 expatriates
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
