23 May 2013
Zuhair Haddad, head of the pilgrims housing committee in Makkah, said it has issued 2,763 building permits since it started work at the beginning of the year.
The buildings will have the capacity for 770,000 pilgrims, he added.
Haddad said the committee wants to cater for 1.6 million Haj visitors this year.
He said there is 21 days left for the committee to receive applications from citizens who want permits to construct buildings. There are not enough accommodations for at least 600,000 pilgrims.
Haddad added that the committee is working to complete the applications as fast as possible, providing that all the documents and conditions are received for the building permits.
The committee is looking at 500 building permit applications with a capacity to house 200,000 pilgrims.
"We hope it will be enough for the required capacity, and if we don't achieved that we look toward other options," Haddad added.
He said the process of the ongoing expansion in the central area of Makkah has not created shortages in the overall building capacities that have been permitted for the pilgrims.
He added that the hotels have a capacity to house 400,000. However, he added that the committee has closed 30 Haj residences, which are in violation of standards in Makkah.
Zuhair Haddad, head of the pilgrims housing committee in Makkah, said it has issued 2,763 building permits since it started work at the beginning of the year.
The buildings will have the capacity for 770,000 pilgrims, he added.
Haddad said the committee wants to cater for 1.6 million Haj visitors this year.
He said there is 21 days left for the committee to receive applications from citizens who want permits to construct buildings. There are not enough accommodations for at least 600,000 pilgrims.
Haddad added that the committee is working to complete the applications as fast as possible, providing that all the documents and conditions are received for the building permits.
The committee is looking at 500 building permit applications with a capacity to house 200,000 pilgrims.
"We hope it will be enough for the required capacity, and if we don't achieved that we look toward other options," Haddad added.
He said the process of the ongoing expansion in the central area of Makkah has not created shortages in the overall building capacities that have been permitted for the pilgrims.
He added that the hotels have a capacity to house 400,000. However, he added that the committee has closed 30 Haj residences, which are in violation of standards in Makkah.
© Arab News 2013
