More than 700 Omanis were stuck in the Batha border of Saudi Arabia on Thursday as they were heading to Makkah to perform Hajj.
The Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs said that Saudi authorities did not allow them to enter the country as they didn’t have Hajj permits, which are must for all GCC nationals.
“We cannot do anything as the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs repeatedly warns nationals and residents about fake Hajj campaign operators,” an official from the ministry told Gulf News.
The ministry has launched smart electronic cards for pilgrims that are linked with the Saudi authorities and feature permit and journey tracking as well as the accommodation address in Saudi Arabia.
Ahmad al-Abri, one of the pilgrims stuck at the border, told Gulf News that many of those stranded in Batha are elderly Omanis and that some were in need of medical attention as they suffer from diabetes, blood pressure and heart diseases.
Al-Abri expressed his sadness as it took him months to collect money to perform the Hajj this year.
“I paid more than 1,350 rials for the Hajj tour operator. Who will pay me back now?” al-Abri asked.
Meanwhile, investigation is underway by the Public Prosecution against unlicensed and fake Hajj tour operators.
It was discovered that all the medical forms handed to those who wished to perform the Hajj were fake and not approved by the Omani authorities.
The investigation included more than 15 tour operators, according to officials from the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs.
The public prosecution summoned Hajj operators and legal action has been taken against them.
The Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs urges nationals and residents to make sure that the Hajj tour operator is approved by the ministry before joining.
Thirteen operators were barred from the list this year due to violations, an official at the ministry told Gulf News.
More than 100 cases were registered against Hajj tour operators for violating rules earlier this year. It included bribery, forgery as well as fake tour plans.
From Oman, 11,200 pilgrims, including 10,015 nationals, 580 Arab pilgrims and 605 non-Arab pilgrims will perform Hajj this year.
Saudi authorities said that obtaining Hajj permits is must for all GCC nationals before leaving their countries.
The prices for Hajj campaigns have increased by 100 rials this year.
The minimum price is 1,200 rials (by road) and 1,800 rials (by air), according to the ministry.
Last July, nine Omanis were killed and 41 sustained severe injuries when their bus collided with a truck on a highway in Saudi Arabia.
The accident occurred in Kharees area between Riyadh and al-Ahsa. The 55 Omanis had performed Umrah in Makkah and were on their way home overland when they had the fatal accident between the Saudi capital Riyadh and al-Ahsa, 330 kilometers to the east.
By Fahad al-Mukrashi
