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Rabat – Morocco’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs has informed Moroccans planning to perform Hajj this year that the second phase for the payment of the pilgrimage fees will take place from March 23-29.
Pilgrims can make the payment at Barid Bank branches across Morocco, the ministry announced on Monday evening.
Citizens registered on the ministry’s waiting lists, who will replace those who did not pay the Hajj fees for the 2023 season during the first phase, should pay the second phase installment in a single payment.
The measure concerns both pilgrimage supervised by the ministry and travel agencies, the statement detailed, stressing that pilgrims need to present their IDs and selection certificates during payment at Barid Bank agencies across Morocco.
Last month, the ministry announced that fees for this year’s Hajj season for Moroccan pilgrims are set at MAD 62,929, or $6,117.
The fees do not include pilgrims’ pocket money, meaning that people need to take extra money for their personal needs.
Morocco’s quota for this year’s Hajj season is set at 34,000 pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia traditionally received 2.5 million pilgrims prior to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Amid the COVID crisis, however, the Gulf country imposed several restrictions that considerably decreased the number of Hajj performers to have traveled to the country over the past two years.
Among other COVID-related restrictions, only individuals below 65 and fully vaccinated against COVID were allowed to perform Hajj rituals during the peak of the pandemic.
With the global health crisis having considerably subsided over the past year, Saudi Arabia announced earlier this year that it would be lifting all COVID restrictions for this Hajj season.
“The number of pilgrims will return to what it was before the pandemic without any age restrictions,” the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced in January.
Read Also: Hajj 2023: Moroccans Pilgrims to Pay Nearly MAD 63,000
