• Muslim pilgrims arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia has welcomed its first batch of Hajj pilgrims from abroad since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, which prompted the authorities to impose restrictions. AFP
    Muslim pilgrims arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia has welcomed its first batch of Hajj pilgrims from abroad since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, which prompted the authorities to impose restrictions. AFP
  • Muslim pilgrims arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. AFP
    Muslim pilgrims arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. AFP
  • Muslim pilgrims arrive in Jeddah. AFP
    Muslim pilgrims arrive in Jeddah. AFP
  • Muslim pilgrims arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia. AFP
    Muslim pilgrims arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia. AFP
  • A pilgrim in Srinagar, Kashmir, is embraced by her relatives before leaving for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP
    A pilgrim in Srinagar, Kashmir, is embraced by her relatives before leaving for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP
  • Pilgrims prepare to leave for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Srinagar, Kashmir. AFP
    Pilgrims prepare to leave for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Srinagar, Kashmir. AFP
  • Pilgrims prepare to leave for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Srinagar, Kashmir. AFP
    Pilgrims prepare to leave for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Srinagar, Kashmir. AFP
  • Kashmiri Muslims wave towards Hajj pilgrims as they leave for the annual pilgrimage. EPA
    Kashmiri Muslims wave towards Hajj pilgrims as they leave for the annual pilgrimage. EPA
  • Kashmiri Muslim pilgrims wave as they leave for the Hajj. EPA
    Kashmiri Muslim pilgrims wave as they leave for the Hajj. EPA
  • A pilgrim Banda Aceh, Indonesia, registers for a vaccination required to undertake the Hajj. EPA
    A pilgrim Banda Aceh, Indonesia, registers for a vaccination required to undertake the Hajj. EPA
  • Indonesian pilgrims prepare to depart from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya. AFP
    Indonesian pilgrims prepare to depart from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya. AFP
  • Indonesian pilgrims prepare to depart from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya. AFP
    Indonesian pilgrims prepare to depart from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya. AFP

Gulf

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announces online draw results for pilgrimage

Select individuals will receive text messages and then have 48 hours to pay and register

Mariam Nihal
Jeddah

June 15, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Wednesday announced the results of an online draw that will allow a limited number of pilgrims from within the kingdom to perform Hajj.

The Ministry said more than 297,444 applications have been submitted in the electronic draw for citizens and residents within the kingdom for the upcoming Hajj season, “of which 62 per cent are for males and 38 per cent are females,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In a statement issued today, the ministry said the total number of applications exceeded 217,000 through the "Etmarna" application and the electronic portal for domestic pilgrims.

The Ministry said an SMS will be sent to those who qualified today, and they will be given 48 hours to make the payment to complete their Hajj registration.

Those who were not selected via the electronic lottery will have a chance in the next count when alternative or additional places become available.

Hajj authorities opened registrations for domestic pilgrims this month as the kingdom lifted restrictions on participation that were imposed in the past two years in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said the priority was given to candidates who have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus and have never performed Hajj.

Makkah from above - in pictures

  • Aerial photos capturing worshippers' movement during Ramadan in Makkah are providing a special view to those not able to be there. Photo: General Presidency of Haramain
    Aerial photos capturing worshippers' movement during Ramadan in Makkah are providing a special view to those not able to be there. Photo: General Presidency of Haramain
  • Aerial photos capturing worshippers' movement during Ramadan in Makkah are providing a special view to those not able to be there. Photo: General Presidency of Haramain
    Aerial photos capturing worshippers' movement during Ramadan in Makkah are providing a special view to those not able to be there. Photo: General Presidency of Haramain
  • Aerial photos capturing worshippers' movement during Ramadan in Makkah are providing a special view to those not able to be there. Photo: General Presidency of Haramain
    Aerial photos capturing worshippers' movement during Ramadan in Makkah are providing a special view to those not able to be there. Photo: General Presidency of Haramain
  • Aerial photos capturing worshippers' movement during Ramadan in Makkah are providing a special view to those not able to be there. Photo: General Presidency of Haramain
    Aerial photos capturing worshippers' movement during Ramadan in Makkah are providing a special view to those not able to be there. Photo: General Presidency of Haramain
  • During Ramadan 2020 and 2021, international visitors were barred from entering Saudi Arabia due to the coronavirus, but this year they have returned. SPA
    During Ramadan 2020 and 2021, international visitors were barred from entering Saudi Arabia due to the coronavirus, but this year they have returned. SPA
  • Itikaf prayers at the Grand Mosque have also been allowed again. SPA
    Itikaf prayers at the Grand Mosque have also been allowed again. SPA
  • During Ramadan, worshippers are met at the Grand Mosque with the smell of oud from more than 20 incense burners, which will be increased to 60 in the last 10 days of the fast. AFP
    During Ramadan, worshippers are met at the Grand Mosque with the smell of oud from more than 20 incense burners, which will be increased to 60 in the last 10 days of the fast. AFP
  • A Muslim woman prays in front of the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque. AFP
    A Muslim woman prays in front of the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque. AFP
  • Saudi Arabia says it will allow one million Muslims from inside and outside the country to participate in this year's Hajj. @SPA twitter
    Saudi Arabia says it will allow one million Muslims from inside and outside the country to participate in this year's Hajj. @SPA twitter
  • Muslim pilgrims walk around the Kaaba. AFP
    Muslim pilgrims walk around the Kaaba. AFP
  • Worshippers pray at the Kaaba. AFP
    Worshippers pray at the Kaaba. AFP
  • Makkah is alive with visitors from all over the world for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic. AFP
    Makkah is alive with visitors from all over the world for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic. AFP
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny

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