Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has confirmed that priority for registration this year will go to those who have not made the pilgrimage before.
A new pilgrim can accompany a main applicant, provided they highlight their first-time status in their application.
The news came during the ministry's response to a question on its Twitter account from a person who wanted to know the reason why his Hajj application was rejected.
The applicant had performed the pilgrimage 16 years before.
The Ministry announced on Thursday that pilgrims wishing to perform this year's Hajj must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Pilgrims must also have the meningococcal vaccine and the seasonal influenza shot, the ministry added.
They should not be suffering from acute chronic diseases or any infectious illnesses.
The ministry also announced on Sunday that it is not possible to add companions after paying the Hajj fees.
People cannot come to perform Hajj unless they hold a dedicated pilgrimage visa or have residency inside Saudi Arabia.
The ministry announced last week that it had opened registration for Hajj in 2023 for pilgrims residing in kingdom, with the price of packages beginning at 3,984 riyals ($1,062).
Domestic pilgrims have the option of paying the Hajj package costs in three instalments, instead of paying the full amount in one go, as was the case in previous years.
The ministry said prospective pilgrims could make a partial payment of 20 per cent of the total cost to reserve their place. The down payment must be made within 72 hours of the registration date. The second and third instalments will each be 40 per cent of the cost.
The pilgrim's Hajj status will become “confirmed” when the payments are made on time. The reservation will be cancelled if the payments are not completed.
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Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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