Exit permit on the spot for expat Hajj pilgrims

Special counters for Hajj pilgrims will be set up at Hamad International Airport (HIA) where, among other things, expatriates will be issued exit permit on the spot.

If it is discovered that the residency permit (RP) of an expatriate pilgrim has expired or is about to lapse, it would be renewed.

The counters will be manned by staff from the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Interior.

This was disclosed by Major Nasser Al Humaidi, from the ministry, at a press conference yesterday.

"We (from the Passport Affairs Department of the ministry) are deploying many of our employees to provide our services to Hajj pilgrims at the airport," Major Al Humaidi said.

Some 1,200 people are going for Hajj, to be held in the fourth week of September, from Qatar this year and some 300 of them are expatriates.

They will travel in 14 batches — 12 by air and two by road. The batches will begin travelling next month.

About exit permit, Major Al Humaidi said a pilgrim could get it any time he wished.

The Hajj and Umrah Affairs Department of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs said there will be a waiting list of pilgrims.

"Those who can't go for Hajj for some reason must inform us. We have a waiting list so we will choose one person in his place from this list according to serial number," officials from the ministry told the news conference.

They included Jassem Abdullah Al Ali, Assistant Director of the department, and Ali Taleib Al Mohanna, Head, Public Relations, at the ministry.

The officials said pilgrims who opt out for some reason will have to apply for pilgrimage afresh next year.

The condition this year is that no batch should comprise less than 50 pilgrims.

The package for Hajj by air this year costs between QR20,000 and QR28,000 per person and those going by road must spend between QR8,000 and QR12,000 each.

The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) is holding a seminar on healthcare precautions and preparations for Hajj tomorrow at Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

It is organising the event in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation for people working in the public and private sectors.

The seminar aims to increase awareness about local, regional and global health risks like HIV, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and other diseases.

It will advise participants on health risks associated with travel in general and for Hajj in particular, and health requirements to be met by those planning the pilgrimage.

It will present World Health Organisation guidelines and precautionary measures pilgrims should take.

The seminar will also display information on vaccinations for pilgrims and SCH procedures to fight communicable diseases, in association with primary healthcare centres. [The Peninsula]