Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr S. Aghayeva / The technical issues regarding this season's upcoming pilgrimage (the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca ( Saudi Arabia) to the Muslim sacred place of Caaba or to Medina, the grave of the Prophet Muhammad) of Azerbaijani believers have been completely resolved. A delegation of the Caucasus Muslims Clerical Port returned from Saudi Arabia, where for the last two weeks, members were resolving the pilgrimage's technical issues.
According to the head of the International Relations Department of the Clerical Port, Mugaddas Payizov, the reception of the documents for the Hajj is in progress. Some 400 applications have been submitted so far. This season, Saudi Arabia allotted 6,000 places to Azerbaijan, 1,700 places more than last season.
Payizov reported earlier that the Hajj to Mecca via the Caucasus Muslims Clerical Port would be a bit more expensive for Azerbaijani citizens this year. He explained the increase in the cost of visiting Mecca has risen in accordance with the prices for diesel fuel, services and visa expenses in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran, and Turkey. Saudi Arabia increased the expenditures for the Hajj. Reception of documents has already begun and will last by 20 September. The pilgrims will leave for Mecca in December by bus or by air. Buses leave in the first days of December, airlines will leave after 9 December.
According to the representative of the Clerical Port, the flight to Mecca will last four days. A pilgrim going to Mecca by bus will have to pay AZN 1,460. This sum covers all expenses along the way, including somewhere to stay in Mecca, the pilgrimage, and a tent. Food and animal sacrifices are paid separately. A visit to Mecca by plane for one person requires AZN 2,280-AZN 4,380. The price depends on the cost of the house rental in Mecca. This time, new houses resembling 4-star hotels were rented for Azerbaijani pilgrims. Pilgrims can refuse to stay in expensive hotels. The Clerical Port increased the quote for private tourism companies engaged in organization of the Hajj. The quote rose from 700 to 1,000 places.