All preparations in place at borders for Haj pilgrims

According to Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, Undersecretary of the Ministry and Assistant Undersecretary of Naturalisation and Residency Directorate, the number of pilgrims going for Haj by land has increased this month with the next one week expected to be the busiest.

“The Ministry has deployed additional staff at the post to facilitate the pilgrims and speed up immigration process so there is no obstacle or any hindrance for them. We are all prepared to receive and facilitate more than 17,000 pilgrims that we expect will cross the border to perform Haj this year,” he said.

According to the Ministry, the number of pilgrims from Oman and Commonwealth Independent States (CIS) this year crossing the border for Haj has increased.

“Various government organisations at the post are assisting the pilgrims with the paper works and making sure they are comfortable.

Major Hamoud Saeed Al Afari, Head of Security Police at Ghuwaifat said our tents to receive pilgrims have been set up at the border post with all the services, including refreshment and rest areas under one roof.

“Each tent can accommodate 400 people at a time. One camp has specially been set up for the people with special needs,” he explained.

Al Afari said in addition, 22 counters to process travel documents have been set up in the tents. The counters, he added, are attended by efficient officers who process 40 travel documents in 10 minutes.

The other services include vehicle repair workshops, safety security teams and a field hospital for 12 patients at a time staffed with paramedics, doctors and ambulances.

“An emergency bus has been deployed to transport group pilgrims in case their buses break down,” he said.

Al Afari has advised Haj services operators to call the following numbers for emergency and inquiries: 8082800 and 02-8723150.

nissar@khaleejtimes.com