Kyrgyzstan has put a new system for organizing the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages up for public discussion. Authorities are proposing to fully digitalize the pilgrimage process, make the allocation of places more transparent, and strengthen control over the spending of pilgrims’ funds.
One of the key innovations will be the creation of a unified digital system for Hajj and Umrah. It will handle pilgrim registration, queue formation, quota distribution, payments, appeals, and other procedures.
The draft stipulates that the Hajj queue will be formed entirely automatically. The document prohibits any manual intervention in the allocation of places, the creation of unofficial queues, the substitution of pilgrims outside the established procedure, and other manipulations. A reserve list and a waiting list are planned for filling vacant places.
Pilgrim registration will be accompanied by automatic data verification through state information systems.
Significant changes will also affect the financial aspects of the pilgrimage. The background statement says that the current system lacks a transparent mechanism for determining the cost of Hajj and Umrah, a procedure for accounting and refunding funds, or a distinction between mandatory and optional expenses. The new procedure should address these gaps.
Furthermore, it is proposed to conduct open competitive procedures to select air carriers, hotels, transport, medical, and insurance companies that will serve pilgrims. However, companies and individuals with conflicts of interest will not be allowed to participate.
To coordinate this work, a permanent interdepartmental commission is being established with representatives from the Presidential Administration, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Committee for National Security, the Ministry of Health, civil aviation authorities, the religious ministry, and the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan.
This year, 6,060 pilgrims from Kyrgyzstan are performing Hajj. They have already begun returning home from Saudi Arabia.
