Haj Committee - Hajj Expenses

1. The amount prepaid for the Hajj package usually includes return airfare, accommodation, meals, and internal bus trips. Get from your Hajj tour company the full details of all the services they provide.

2. Bring additional cash/travelers cheques for:

a) Telephone calls (cards and IDD booths);

b) Purchase of medicines and related items;

c) Laundry;

d) Food / snacks / drinks;

e) Transport (for examples, sightseeing trips, additional umrah trips);

f) Souvenirs / gifts / purchase of dates;

g) Excess luggage (return journey);

h) Postal charges;

i) Payment of dam (haji tamattu) / korban;

j) Charity;

k) Some additional cash to cover emergencies (for example, due to a crisis at home, the pilgrim may have to return immediately which may require additional airfare expenses); and

l) Purchase of clothes and other essentials if your baggage is lost in transit.

As can be seen from the above, a pilgrim needs a substantial amount of money to cover various expenses during his stay in The Holy Land.

The amount needed depends on several factors including the number of days the pilgrim will be staying in The Holy Land.

In budgeting for your expenses, you should talk to those who performed The Hajj the previous year. Use the list of expenditure categories provided above so that you can talk specific figures.

Below are some price indications (2002 prices).

1. Dates. The price of dates vary from SR 10 to SR 120 per kg. A good quality date called "Amber" can be purchased for SR 30 per kg.

2. Dam for tamattu / korban: The price of goat is in the range of SR 350 to SR 400.

3. Souvenirs / gifts. Prayer rugs, tasbih and prayer caps are the most commonly bought items. Prices of prayer rugs range from SR 5 to over SR 100 per piece. You can buy a reasonably good quality prayer rug for SR 15. Prices of prayer caps range from 3 pieces for SR 5 to SR 5 for one. Tasbih prices range from a dozen pieces for SR 5 to SR 15 for one. Of course, there are very, very expensive tasbih as well.

4. Excess luggage: SR 20 per kg. Saudi Airlines allows the pilgrim traveling economy class to carry up to 30kg of check-in luggage and another 5kg of hand carried luggage.

5. Laundry. There are many laundry service centers near The Holy Mosques. They take about 24 to 48 hours to return your clothes. SR 2 for a shirt and SR 3 for a pant.

6. Telephone calls: expenses depend on the frequency, length and destination of the calls.
Use the rates prevailing in your country as rough guide in budgeting for this expense.

7. Charity. The minimum amount given to a street beggar is SR 1. You'll find near both Mosques and other places many physically challenged persons begging. A significant number of the beggars are women carrying infants and young girls. One wonders whether this is a reflection of underlying social problems.