After a two year pause caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Saudi Arabia has reopened Mecca to international tourists. However, a new set travel restrictions and operating procedures created a new set if problems for anyone who wanted to make this Eid al-Adha journey.
Saudi Arabia has reopened the country to 1 million pilgrims who wish to make the 2022 pilgrimage from Mecca. Normally, 2 million people descend on the city to perform hajj. However, officials decided to limit this year’s participation due to the ongoing pandemic.
Many people found that the limited capacity wasn’t the greatest obstacle to their success. Saudi Arabia introduced a new booking system that required prospective-pilgrims only to use one online platform. Many found it difficult to navigate.
Many Muslims living in Western countries, such as Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, have used travel agencies to book everything, from accommodations and flights to guides on the ground. Saudi Arabia’s new rules eliminate the middleman. Instead, travelers were required to book their trip via Motawif — the only online platform that handles hajj travel arrangements.
Mahmoud Ghanem is a Delaware biochemist who was excited at first about the changes. They promised that it would be easier and cheaper.
“When the Saudi government said they would use one portal, I was so happy. Mahmoud said, “Oh my God, my dreams have come true.” It turned out to be a nightmare.
To no avail, he tried to book a vacation for his wife and him. He kept getting error messages every time he tried selecting a package. It cost nearly $30,000 and took them 10 days to complete. Motawif was the only person he could reach out to, and he assured him that he would be able make it.
On June 28, Ghanem finally made his travel arrangements and paid the full amount. Ghanem stayed up late to prepare for the trip but was notified by Dubai that he could not board the flight.
Mahmoud stated that he was calling them twice daily and begging them to give me an e-ticket. “Then, I noticed on Twitter that people were getting emails telling them they had two options. They could book their own flight or cancel, and then we would refund you. We will also guarantee you a spot for next year’s hajj. “But I didn’t even receive that.”
He said that he wouldn’t have believed someone would tell him he couldn’t make the pilgrimage with so many people trying. He wanted transparency. Mahmoud claimed that representatives lied to him and his wife for days, promising them that they would make it to Mecca.
He is glad he didn’t make it to Saudi Arabia after seeing what other people have gone through.
The year’s hajj will conclude on July 12, after having begun on July 7. Millions of people take part in the annual ritual, which follows the same steps as the Prophet Muhammad 1,400 years ago. It is because of this that so much effort is put into making sure travelers have everything they need for a trip once in a life time.
However, those who made it to the hajj this year have shared their frustrations on social media.
Mohammed Nasim claimed that his father and mother were able to travel from the U.K. after their trip was delayed more than a week. They initially booked a hotel just five minutes from al-Masjid al-a$?arAm, which is the Great Mosque of Mecca. But they ended up in another hotel about an hour walk.
They were also promised three meals per day but they never received the food.
Nasim stated that both of my parents are type 2 diabetics so it is crucial to eat on time. “They thought Motawif would provide food on-time every day… but they weren’t.”
Tents are available in Mina, 5 miles from the Great Mosque of Mecca. They can be used by pilgrims who want to stay there while they do other parts of their pilgrimage. While some share tents with many others, others prefer to have more privacy and reserve one for themselves.
Air conditioning becomes a necessity when temperatures rise above 100 degrees. Some Mina residents have complained that their AC doesn’t work, leading to unbearable living conditions.
@Motawif_SA #HajMinistry @MoHU_En Our Mina tent has NO AC. These tents are too hot for us to breathe. It’s like an oven. For lunch, Indome was served. HELP!! We will die of heat stroke.
“Our Mina tent does not have AC. These tents are too hot for us to breathe. It’s like an oven. One user shared that he was given Instant noodles for lunch. “HELP!! We will die of heat stroke.”
Some others have complained about the poor quality of the toilets, the lack of water and the lack of English-speaking guides. The overwhelming majority of people unhappy with their hajj experience point the finger at Motawif and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, as well as the government.
Although the hajj pilgrimage is a once-off requirement, many Muslims make it multiple times. According to Florida lawyer Hassan Shibly (a Florida-based lawyer), first-time hajj participants may be overwhelmed or unpleasantly surprised by the experience. For those who have done hajj before, Shibly says that this year’s experience is not too unusual.
Shibly stated, “Things don’t always go as planned, and they can get messy.” “I have been going to hajj since the age of 17. It’s an adventure and transformative. The journey is full of joy, even the difficulties and hardships. It’s our chance to give up all we have and to face God in the heat. The challenges are fun.
He is currently on his eighth or seventh hajj. He has always offered his assistance to newcomers, who often are unsure where and when to go. He said that his services are now more important than ever because of the lack of English-speaking guides.
He acknowledges that things could be better. He’s seen Umrah and the Ministry of Hajj making rounds to gather feedback.
“They are engaging and receptive. Shibly stated that this surprised her. “I believe I would have a completely different view if it weren’t for that.”
Ghanem is less optimistic. He would have made his first hajj this year. He is still trying to recover his money from last year’s failed attempt, and isn’t sure if he will risk tens of thousand of dollars next year.
He and his wife, who are dual citizens, can attend next year’s hajj through Egypt. He attempted to pass through them before he went through the United States in June but was denied. Ghanem stated that they were transparent which kept his expectations grounded.
He said that despite all his setbacks, it is still his goal to reach Mecca. Ghanem only wishes that the Saudi government would reconsider how it views the hajj and make it more accessible to Muslims around the world to fulfill their religious obligation.
It should be more religious than a secular event. You know that the profit should be minimal. Ghanem said. “But it’s been an industry over the years.”
