Azerbaijani Muslims pay for Hajj more than Russian ones

The cost of a Hajj tour for Azerbaijani Muslims is 4490 US dollars, while Georgian Muslims can make their Hajj to Saudi Arabia for USD 3800. This is higher than the minimum tour cost for pilgrims from Dagestan – USD 2610.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 14, Chechnya began accepting documents from those who wish to make a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. In Chechnya, this year's tour has gone up by almost ten percent and makes USD 3600, the republic's Muftiate has announced. The "Marva Tour", a Hajj operator from Dagestan, offers the cheapest tour at USD 2610, and the most expensive one – for USD 8500.

The only Hajj operator in Azerbaijan is the Caucasian Muslims' Administration (CMA). On February 18, its press service source told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that this year Azerbaijan's quota for sending pilgrims to the Hajj was set at 1500 persons.

According to the source, this year's travel cost has gone up by USD 265, that is, from USD 4225 to USD 4490 dollars compared with the last year's one. He said that the increase is due to the introduction by the Saudi authorities of the entry fee, as well as by the increase in the cost of hotel services in the country.

This year's Hajj quota for Georgian Muslims is 300 people, Tariel Nakaidze, the head of the Union of Georgian Muslims, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to his story, the cost of the flight is about USD 3800. "Depending on the ticket category – business or economic class – prices, of course, can vary," he said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 19, 2020 at 04:32 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.