Abdul Rahman Al-Qatami, spokesman for the Makkah Passport Department in Saudi Arabia, said that the return of Umrah and Hajj pilgrims on time is the responsibility of Hajj companies. They also oblige visitors to abide by the rules.
He said in Al-Akhbariya Channel's well-known program Al-Nashra Al-Awli that 208 companies have violated the law. Their officials have been summoned and questioned, and companies have been fined.
Abdul Rahman Al-Qatami said that according to the prescribed law, if a pilgrim or Umrah pilgrim does not return from the country on time, a fine of 25,000 riyals per pilgrim is imposed on the respective Hajj and Umrah company, this fine is imposed on the companies.
It may be recalled that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Agency for Pilgrimage Affairs has released the statistics of Umrah pilgrims coming to Madinah from abroad by land, sea and air during Umrah season 2022.
The report said that 531,546 Umrah pilgrims came by air while the number of returnees was 426,547.
