Egyptian Gov't Cancels Hajj at State Expense for Current Season

PM Mostafa Madbouly directed the continuation of the preparatory meetings  with Saudi Arabia official to ensure the provision of all necessary services to Egyptian pilgrims, and to facilitate all their affairs, while canceling the Hajj at the expense of the state for this year, reducing the number of pilgrims service missions.

This came during the PM's meeting of the Higher Ministerial Committee for Hajj.

During the meeting, the Minister of Health and Population reviewed the efforts made by the medical staff during the last Hajj season, stressing in this context to the Ministry's full readiness for all health services required to be provided.

The Minister of Awqaf stressed the importance of adhering to what was implemented last year regarding not allocating Hajj at the expense of the state, in addition to reducing the number of service missions to a minimum, and without travel allowances.

Also during the meeting, the Minister of Social Solidarity reviewed the preparations made by with regard to the lottery pilgrimage and associations, and presented a number of the Ministry's proposals for the controls regulating them.

The Assistant Minister of Interior for the Administrative Affairs Sector noted that the preparatory meeting with the Saudi side witnessed agreement on a number of logistical issues, in addition to the new mechanism for contracting services provided to pilgrims, as well as contracts for their stay on the Saudi electronic track system, as well as early coordination mechanisms with the Saudi Airlines, in order to obtain landing permits at airports.