New Hajj transportation regulations: 100,000 fines and suspension for violators
The General Transport Center in Makkah and the Holy Sites has begun implementing a comprehensive legislative and regulatory framework aimed at restructuring the Hajj transportation sector. This involves imposing strict technical and operational requirements to ensure the efficiency of services provided to pilgrims. This decisive step to regulate the sector includes deterrent penalties for violators, commensurate with the responsibility placed on service providers in one of the world's largest human gatherings.
A regulatory framework that aligns with Vision 2030
These regulatory measures are fully aligned with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, specifically within the "Serving the Guests of God" program, which aims to bring about a qualitative leap in the Hajj and Umrah experience. Given that the transportation sector is the lifeblood of a successful Hajj season, requiring the movement of millions of pilgrims between the holy sites within tight and precise timeframes, raising safety and quality standards is no longer an option but an urgent necessity. This regulation aims to eliminate haphazard practices and ensure that companies operating in this sector possess the necessary financial, technical, and operational capabilities to handle the pressures of the season.
Licensing requirements and timeline
The new regulations require all establishments wishing to operate to obtain prior authorization from the center, prohibiting any work within the designated geographical area (Mecca and the Holy Sites) without this official document to ensure the legality of operations. The regulations also establish a precise timeframe for submitting "expressions of interest" to participate, beginning on the first of Jumada al-Thani annually and continuing for sixty days, to ensure early preparation for the season and prevent any last-minute shortcomings.
Service providers must also complete all necessary data and documents and submit them electronically to the center no later than the fifteenth of Shawwal, with the possibility of extension until the end of the month in extreme necessity, reflecting the keenness of the concerned authorities on the accurate organization of data.
Protecting the rights of pilgrims during breakdowns
In a crucial step to safeguard pilgrims' rights and prevent overcrowding, the regulations mandate that carriers provide an alternative means of transportation immediately upon bus breakdown, within one hour within city limits and two hours outside, to ensure the continuation of the journey without delays that could disrupt the pilgrims' rituals. If the company fails to provide a replacement within the specified timeframe, the relevant authority will intervene to secure a suitable means of transportation, with the service provider bearing all associated costs. This places direct responsibility on the companies.
Technical specifications and human resources
The regulations emphasized the necessity of adhering to the approved technical specifications for buses, as meeting safety and technical fitness standards is a fundamental requirement for fleet participation in the Hajj season. The regulations also addressed the human element, mandating that companies provide a sufficient number of qualified drivers and technicians to ensure safe operation and maintenance of buses throughout the season according to precise schedules, thus minimizing the likelihood of accidents or unexpected breakdowns.
List of penalties and grievances
To ensure compliance, the regulations stipulate graduated financial penalties ranging from 150 riyals to 100,000 riyals, imposed according to the severity of the violation and its impact on the safety and comfort of pilgrims. In cases of serious or repeated violations, penalties can include barring the establishment from participating for one or even three seasons, and may ultimately result in the permanent revocation of its operating license, effectively removing the company from the market.
Despite the strictness, the regulations guarantee the right of service providers to appeal to a specialized committee within sixty days from the date of notification of the penalty, with the possibility of resorting to the Administrative Court in case of non-acceptance of the decision of the grievance committee, which ensures fairness and transparency in the application of the system.
