Saudi Arabia has extended a deadline for registration to obtain permits for buildings in Mecca that will accommodate Muslim pilgrims during the upcoming annual Hajj pilgrimage due in June.
Deputy Governor of Mecca Saud bin Meshal has approved the extension until the 24th of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar, the Saudi newspaper Okaz reported. The month of Ramadan is expected this year to begin on March 1.
A Saudi state committee in charge of readying housing for pilgrims in Mecca has urged owners of such buildings to swiftly go to accredited consultancy engineering offices to present their applications.
Last July, the committee announced the start of registration to obtain related permits as part of early preparations for the annual Hajj congregation.
The panel has called on Saudi nationals interested in obtaining or renewing permits for renting their buildings to house the pilgrims to present applications.
The Mecca municipality originally set the deadline for receiving the applications until the end of Rajab, the seventh Islamic month corresponding to January 30 while the deadline for the issuance of the permits at the end of the current month of Shaaban.
Engineering firms accredited by the municipality and the civil defence service are tasked to check the buildings to verify their compliance with the required stipulations before giving them certificates whereby related permits are issued by the committee.
The municipality has called on the landlords to comply with the associated conditions, meet all safety requirements and forward their applications as early as possible to avoid last-minute processing and congestion.
Hajj is one of Islam’s five obligatory duties. Muslims, who can physically and financially afford Hajj, have to undertake it at least once in a lifetime.
Around 1.8 million Muslims, including 1.6 million from abroad, performed last year’s Hajj.
(Gulf News)