Every year, around 20,000 British Muslims travel to Makkah for Hajj. Many more travel for Umrah. The information below contains practical advice and explains what services the British Hajj Delegation can offer British Pilgrims should they choose to travel to Saudi Arabia. Before you go a successful pilgrimage requires careful preparation. Talk to those who have already performed the Hajj. Make sure your passport and visa for Saudi Arabia are in order. Take a photocopy of your passport and keep it with you at all times. To comply with Saudi Government regulations.

. Make sure your return ticket is confirmed. Take out full travel insurance to cover illness, injury and loss of money, baggage and tickets.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE AT JEDDAH AIRPORT

The Saudi authorities take their Hajj responsibilities very seriously. The well-being of pilgrims is very important to them. But the numbers arriving at and departing from Jeddah airport during the Hajj can be daunting. Pilgrims should be prepared for delays. Basic facilities are available, but it is a good idea to take food and water with you. Think of the particular needs of elderly pilgrims travelling with you. On arrival, the Saudi authorities will take your passport in exchange for a receipt. The Pilgrim Guides Establishment will hold it for you while you are performing Hajj and return it to you on departure. We strongly advise that you carry a photocopy of your passport (back page and visa page) at all times. It is also useful to keep with you the addresses and telephone numbers of your hotel, family and friends.



HEALTH AND WELFARE

A successful Hajj requires patience and thought to safeguard your and others' safety. Some 2 million pilgrims visit the Holy sites during the Hajj. Some of the Holy places can be very crowded, particularly at the stoning of the devils at Mina and the circumambulation of the Ka’ba. The crowds can be particularly daunting for the elderly or frail.

Pilgrims can become separated from their family or friends. Make a note of the location of your camp and tent and agree a meeting point with family and friends in case you do become separated. The performance of Hajj is physically demanding, even if you are fit.

Pilgrims need to protect themselves from the sun, dehydration, exhaustion, foot problems, and respiratory and bronchial illnesses.

Always make sure you carry enough food and water, an umbrella to protect you from the sun and a spare pair of sandals. Paying particular attention to personal hygiene and sanitation will help you avoid illness. If you are taking medication you should bring an adequate supply, accompanied by a doctor’s certificate describing the medication. This will help you avoid problems with Customs. Always carry essential medicines with you.

The Saudi Government provides adequate and widely available services. The British Hajj Delegation can provide emergency medical and consular assistance at Makkah during the Hajj. However, the numbers using all these services can, at times, be overwhelming.


MENINGITIS
It is compulsory for you to be inoculated with the 'quadrivalent' meningococcal vaccine (ACWY Vac), which protects against four different strains of meningitis.

Consult your GP if you are in any doubt or see the Department of Health website www.dh.gov.uk

HELP AND ASSISTANCE
We hope that you have a trouble-free Hajj. If something does go wrong, the British Hajj Delegation is on hand to assist you. The delegation is a team of volunteers from the British Muslim community. They will be in Saudi Arabia throughout the Hajj to provide help and assistance to British Hajjis. The Delegation will include a team of doctors and counsellors, who will offer initial treatment of illnesses and injuries, as well as counselling support and advice. They will be accompanied by Muslim staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The Delegation will be located in the Joharat Al-Mahzeer Hotel, Al-Hijlak, Ibrahim Al-Khaleel Street, Makkah (see 'Useful contacts details' section)

Working with the British Consulate-General in Jeddah, the delegation will provide you with a full range of consular services.

• Advise you on how to transfer money
• Provide contact details for local lawyers and hospitals
• Arrange for a next of kin to be told of an accident or a death and advise on procedures
• Give advice on UK passport and visa matters

• Rearrange travel bookings
• Get involved in lost baggage disputes
• Pay your hotel, legal, medical or travel bills
• Get you out of prison
• Give legal advice
• Intervene in court cases
• Investigate a crime

The Saudi authorities do not recognise dual nationality and may, therefore, confiscate second passports. Pilgrims should be aware that the Hajj authorities might also group them according to the nationality of the passports they carry. This could result in separation from family and friends if you carry a different passport to them.

Pilgrims travelling on a non-British passport are not entitled to Consular assistance from the British Consulate-General. British nationals who choose to travel on non-British passports should ensure that all British visas or endorsements are clearly shown in that passport.

Any documentation required to re-enter the United Kingdom should be obtained before leaving the UK, to prevent any delays in returning.

USEFUL CONTACT DETAILS

General contact point for lost pilgrims (Makkah)
Telephone: (02) 574 9920
British Consulate-General, Jeddah
Telephone: (02) 622 5550
Fax: (02) 622 6249

Ministry of Hajj
Jeddah, Telephone: (02) 665 5811

Emergencies
Ambulance, Telephone: 997
Police, Telephone: 999
Traffic Accidents, Telephone: 993

Phone Calls
To call the UK from Saudi Arabia dial 0044 (If the next digit is '0', drop it and dial the next number) To call Saudi Arabia from the UK dial 00 966