Samar Yahya

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Lebanon Consul General Ziad Atallah, in a interview with Saudi Gazette on Haj and Lebanese pilgrims said: “Our quota is around 4,000 and the final number of pilgrims is not yet confirmed but it is much less than previous years. Due to the expansion of the Holy Mosque the numbers of pilgrims is reduced on the whole.



This might cause some disquiet for people who want to come for Haj, but on the other level the controlled numbers of pilgrims from outside and inside the Kingdom helps all round with people enjoying “smooth and privileged facilities.”



Atallah appreciated the efforts of Saudi authorities and Haj departments, Haj and Umrah Affairs Authority in Lebanon for all the clear instructions given to the missions and the exact staging and the chronological order provided for the inflow of Lebanese pilgrims to Jeddah and Madinah.



“So far it has been an impeccable inflow of pilgrims. We have received all Lebanese pilgrims and we completed the first third of the Haj procedures. Now it is time to prepare for the rites that is the second step and the third would be the outflow for pilgrims going back to Lebanon. As I can see due to clear instructions and its exact application and abidance of the instructions, I have received no negative feedback or problem till this hour.



“This year the Lebanese pilgrims are headed by former minister Dr. Khalid Kabbani, pilgrims mission commission president who is in Madinah looking after Lebanese pilgrims and, I will join him in Makkah to perform Haj with Lebanese pilgrims,” Atallah said.

On health concerns, Atallah confirmed that the control on numbers of pilgrims and by the blessing of God and the care and precautions taken by Ministry of Health and Ministry of Haj all Lebanese pilgrims are so far safe and in good health and I hope that Haj would end with zero problems.



Atallah called for all pilgrims, specifically Lebanese, to thank God in every step they take as being the guests of God for this Haj and that they were picked from among other millions who wanted to perform Haj. He asked them to feel and live the purity and to enjoy the journey to the maximum as it might be the sole experience for them to perform Haj. “Let all the efforts be in obeying God and be ideal God guests.”



Performing Haj rites, including the stoning of Satan, Atallah’s message to Lebanese pilgrims is: “Obey instructions of policemen and Saudi authorities guiding pilgrims in every step and abide by the measures you have already learned from tour guides.”



As for the consulate services, Atallah said: “The role of the Consulate General has become supervisory and intervention comes in case of emergency. 



We have been supervising all the time but the commission from Lebanon is doing all the required procedure. Our role is if health problem for a pilgrim arises or if any pilgrim loses his/ her passport then we complete the documents to go home, or God forbids, in case of death we prepare the required documents for burying. We have zero overstayers and the Saudi authorities have always congratulated us.”



On prices of Haj campaigns from Lebanon, Atallah said that there are various levels on offer, yet the margin of services provided by the higher and the least levels are minimal. “We always provide good services and the organization of the Lebanese tents was an example for the other commissions. This is due to the limited numbers and the long history and experience that the travel agents have in organizing Haj and Umrah.”