UK Muslims asked to be wary of Hajj pilgrimage scams

The Birmingham city council has warned Muslims from the area to be wary of travel scams around the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The council reportedly sees a large number of complaints every year from British Mulsims who find below-par accommodations and arrangements once they have arrived in Saudi Arabia.

Many pilgrims are forced to deal with standards far lower than their tour operators have assured. In extreme cases, travellers find the arrangements they have paid for do not exist at all.

Chairman of the public protection committee, Neil Eustace has cautioned the Muslim community against rogue tour operators looking to make a quick buck over the pilgrimage. He says many of these operators do not possess the relevant licence and travellers making arrangements with them have no legal protection.

Mr Eustace has described the extortion of Hajj pilgrims as a “disgrace”, and added that the government would do everything possible to protect the travellers. He advises travellers planning on making the Hajj pilgrimage to consider carefully the information provided in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website before making any bookings.

According to Saudi government regulations, UK pilgrims bound for Hajj can only travel with British travel agencies accredited by the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia.

Mr Eustace advises pilgrims to book only with legitimate travel operators licensed to provide the Hajj service. Trading standards officers in Birmingham will be visiting these accredited agencies to make sure they are fully aware of their legal obligations, including procedures and redress schemes in case anything goes wrong.

Meanwhile, new regulations from the Saudi government require Hajj pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia from the UK to be vaccinated against seasonal flu. Britons will need to produce a recent vaccine certificate to apply for a Saudi visa.