Prince Naif approves regulations for Pilgrims transport

Riyadh, 10 December 06

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister, has approved the regulations pertaining to various transport means used in transporting pilgrims for this year's Hajj.

According to these regulations all small vehicles which carry Saudi plates and have a capacity of less than nine seats, driven by those who dress 'ihram' will be prevented from entering Makkah effective from 25th Zil-Qa'eda up to the end of 13 Zil Hijjah.

All vehicles which are not registered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and have capacity of less than nine seats will be prevented from entering Makkah.

All small vehicles which have a capacity of less than nine seats will be prevented from entering the Holy Places effective from the fifth of Zil-Hijjah up to the 13th of Zil-Hijjah.

All buses which have a capacity of 16 or more seats will be subject to technical inspection with the exclusion of buses coming from abroad and used for the transportation of pilgrims.

All vehicles used in the transportation of livestock to Makkah should be registered at the nearest traffic administration.

All vehicles specialized for medical purposes which are not licensed from the concerned authorities at the Health Ministry will not be allowed to enter the Holy Places effective from the fifth of Zil-Hijjah up to the 13th of Zil-Hijjah.

All vehicles specialized for the service and transportation of employees, supervisors and workers will not be allowed to enter the Holy Places unless they obtain license from the concerned authorities.

All truck carrying livestock will not be allowed to enter Makkah unless they obtain veterinary certificates. The trucks of the contractors of the Islamic Development Bank (idb) will be excluded from this regulation.

Violators of regulations will be subject to penalties.