Brunei recently signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia on the arrangements for this year’s Haj pilgrimage which includes the allocation of 1,000 pilgrims from the sultanate.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) also comprises ports and means of arrival and departure, as well as organisational instructions that enhance the safety and comfort of pilgrims from the preparation for the journey of a lifetime until leaving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The MoU was inked by Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Abdulfattah bin Sulaiman Mashat and Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohd Tashim Pengiran Haji Hassan during Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) visit to the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition (Hajj Expo 2023).
Based on a report, there will be no age limit for Haj pilgrims from Brunei and 35 officers from the Haj Management Office (Administration and Medical) will be accompanying the local delegation to Madinah and Makkah is 35.
Moreover, in a statement from Saudi Arabia Embassy in Brunei, several agreements were made with delegations from other countries by the kingdom’s deputy minister.
“These agreements come in the frame of the developmental procedures offered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims,” said the statement.
Hajj Expo 2023 is the largest gathering and event related to Hajj and Umrah, bringing more than 60,000 visitors.
The exhibition was participated by 200 companies specialising in the Haj and Umrah sector from more than 57 countries as well as featuring over 70 speakers and experts.
The gathering serves as a space for exchanging visions, ideas, innovations and experiences, creating opportunities for countries to be present to sign their agreements and arrange the affairs of their citizens in advance of the Hajj and Umrah seasons.
The statement added that the four-day conference hosted forty workshops, in addition to nine main sessions, which discussed several topics that contribute to developing the experience of pilgrims, employing digital solutions, and working to build an integrated and sustainable system to develop and enhance the services provided and achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
“All these efforts come within the framework of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s endeavour to provide distinguished services to the pilgrims and work to enrich their experience at all levels of logistics, security, technology, as well as culture and knowledge, through the Program of pilgrims and the concerted efforts of all government sectors, the private sector, entrepreneurs and partners, from around the world,” concluded the statement.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
