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JEDDAH HAJJ TERMINAL (ARRIVAL) |
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Patience
Patience is a virtue, and more so from the time you land at Jeddah till your departure from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Government harbors no ill feelings towards the Hujjaajj. On the contrary, it is continuously upgrading facilities and services for the pilgrims’ ease and comfort. You will encounter odd delays, which can be quite frustrating, leading to fraying of tempers. Please, exercise extreme patience!
Terminal Building The Hajj Terminal, the one used by pilgrims, is estimated to be at least five million square feet (465,000 m²), the world's second largest air terminal, after Hong Kong International Airport's terminal. It sits over 100 acres (405,000 m²) of ground area, and it is known for its tent-shaped roof. The terminal’s roof is not actually a tent, but a white colored fiberglass. This terminal has a mosque, and it can accommodate 80,000 travelers at the same time. Under each set of a tent-like structure, facilities are located for the pilgrim to rest, sleep and acquire either prepared foods or food which the pilgrim himself may prepare. In addition, many washing and toilet facilities have been provided in each set, as well as offices providing banking, postal, airline, bus and taxi, and general information support services. It is estimated that the terminal complex accommodates 50,000 pilgrims at one time for periods up to 18 hours during arrival and 80,000 pilgrims for periods up to 36 hours during departure. Terminal a hive of activity, but well organized. Many arrival halls set in a row, each hall being set aside for handling of a particular incoming flight’s passengers in batch mode.
Custom and immigration hall air-conditioned with lots of facilities for Wudhu, drinking water, toilets, Salaat, but NO eating facility.
Can have a long wait here both for arrival and departure, as processing of passports and checking of luggage is time consuming.
Immigration
In the immigration hall, immigration personnel will separate all of you into two groups according to your gender, as the counters are different for the different genders. Ensure that your spouse has her passport, a spare set of keys for the luggage and relevant drafts with her beforehand. This section is where random health checks maybe made.
Customs
Next, a personal and physical check of yourself and your hand luggage takes place. The customs officials are very suspicious of your money, especially 100 and 500 Riyal notes and US $100 dollar notes. It is sometimes better to have US$ travelers’ cheques but occasionally these become cumbersome to cash in the absence of a passport, the rate of exchange is slightly lower than cash and queues are quite long in the banks.
Physical Check of Baggage
Next is a physical check of your baggage; by this time your womenfolk will be with you. As of 2002 a scanning system for luggage has been in place. You could place your luggage for scanning and once the official is happy, a sticker will be affixed on the bag. Alternatively, one could go to the counter and the officials there will do a random spot check and on satisfaction will put a sticker on your bags. Ensure that every bag, (no matter how small), has the sticker to prove that it has passed the customs check point.
Any Islamic Kitaabs, (or literature in general), the customs officer does not understand will usually be confiscated and THROWN into a large plastic bag. Do not even attempt to argue with, or stop him; he is only doing his duty.
“Fresh looking” foodstuff also tends to be confiscated e.g. “poorees”, (which feel “soft”), rather than the hard variety, (e.g. chevda, sakapara, mamra, gathia), which appear to be exempt. However, I have had polony brought into Saudi by a Hajji from Zambia!!
Please note that there are no baggage trolleys up to this stage - so come into Saudi Arabia with a bare minimum of luggage as both your hands can be quite occupied.
Tent City
Once you are out of the air-conditioned customs and immigration hall, you will now be under a huge tent structure which is not air conditioned, but air-cooled, and is a mini city on its own.
Unified or United Agents
You will first be halted at the Unified Agents’ desk whilst your luggage is being hauled onto large trolleys manned by their personnel. It is here that each batch of arriving passengers is sub-divided into groups according to the nationality indicated on the passport and subsequently assigned to the respective Muassassas office. (This is for their statistical analysis and for their convenience to provide you with a better and efficient service. Basically, they want “birds of the same feather to flock together!”). This may create a problem as you and your spouse, (and other family members), maybe of different nationalities and hence maybe allocated camps in Mina/Arafat/Muzdalifah at opposite ends, (depending on which Muassassas office you have been assigned to!). [However, this is in direct contravention of rules and regulations published by the Ministry of Hajj which emphasises the need of keeping a family together under one umbrella. This is also emphasised for ladies accompanied by their Mahram. In addition, a similar emphasis is placed when transporting pilgrims on buses to the various holy sites].
This is the time and place to alert the officials that you are all traveling as a group from one country where you are residents, despite the different nationalities. Show them the visa in all the relevant passports as it will indicate that it was issued by their embassy from the same country. This will usually be enough to convince them to assign you to the same Muassassas offices. (In your case it is called the “The Tuwafa Establishment for Africa-Non-Arab Speaking Countries”). The address of this establishment is as follows ;
Makkah Al
Mukarramah, Al Sitteen Street, Badr Khalaf Layout, Al Hijaz Market, near the
Social Insurance Office. Tel: 5435527
Fax: 5445245 Documentation Issued to you
The Unified Agents’ desk will literally smear your passport with all sorts of stamps, stickers and a coupon booklet, the latter being stapled to your passport. Your passport will now be returned to you. Ensure safekeeping of all attached cards / tickets / coupons etc.
The booklet of coupons is actually a receipt of the “transport service draft”, (which you had obtained from your home town), and if the various sector leaflets in this booklet are not used by you, (i.e. you do not use transport provided by Unified Agents), then you can claim a refund on your departure at the Hajj Terminal after Hajj. This refund will be in Riyals and the exact amount is printed on each leaflet.
Area Allocation
Your baggage, loaded onto large trolleys by Unified Agents’ personnel, will be allocated an area under this “tent city”. By this time you should have decided whether you want to go to Makkah or Madinah first, and if the latter, whether you want to go by road or by air. This is so in order for the Unified Agents’ office to allocate you the prescribed area. Do not tip the porters as this has already been included in your drafts.
Internal Travel Restrictions
Those Hujjaajj entering Saudi Arabia at the last minute, i.e. towards the end of Zil - Qadh, may not be able to proceed to Madinah first due to certain limitations imposed by the Saudi authorities. In this case, you will have to go to Makkah first, and to do so you will have to be in Ihraam. The dilemma which is faced by most Hujjaajj is where to don the Ihraam, (i.e. before landing at Jeddah or at Jeddah airport). Many learned Ulemaa have given the permission of doing so at Jeddah airport, yet others have given a different ruling. It is best to take advice from your local Ulemaa before embarking on your journey.
In the recent past it has also happened that despite having confirmed tickets for onward travel to Madinah from Jeddah airport, the authorities have denied this facility and instead the Hujjaajj had to go by road. This was in a case where the Hujjaajj had entered just two weeks before Hajj. It is for this reason that you should purchase your Madinah tickets separately and make it part of an excursion fare on the main ticket as refunds are easier when tickets are purchased separately.
Travel Coupons
Once you have settled in your area, it is advisable to TEAR out those leaflets from your “travel draft coupon” which you may not be utilizing throughout your stay. This is very important, especially for those intending to perform “pedal” (walking) Hajj, (and those booked with private tour operators, e.g. Khogeer, Bahauddin, Avoca, etc., where transport for the five days of Hajj will be provided by the operator). These leaflets will then be kept securely by you and exchanged for cash on your departure from the kingdom.
These coupons are valid for a one-way journey only i.e. Jeddah to Makkah, (or vice versa), Makkah to Madinah, (or vice versa), except for the 5 days of Hajj, when they are valid for the return trip as well i.e. Makkah - Mina - Arafat - Muzdalifah - Mina - Makkah.
Those Hujjaajj intending to use Muassassas transport for their entire stay in Saudi Arabia, should not remove these coupons; however if these Hujjaajj do decide to perform “pedal” Hajj later, then these coupons will no longer be with them as the coupons have been attached to their passports which will already have been in safe custody at the Muassassas office. As a consequence, their coupons will be torn off by the Muassassas officials, who will later claim the specified amount from the relevant authorities for providing these unsuspecting Hujjaajj with transport stipulated on the coupons, and yet these same Hujjaajj may have walked all or part of the 5 days of Hajj, without having used the coupons!! (This is a big fiddle going on among the Muassassas unfortunately). Therefore, my advice to you is to remove all the coupons yourself for safekeeping and bear whatever consequences which may follow, later!!
However, of late, the system has improved and most Hujjajj are getting their coupons, (and refunds), in full without any hassle.
Hajj & Umrah Literature
At this terminal try and obtain literature, in English, pertaining to Hajj and Umrah and which is distributed free of charge by the Unified Agents.
Foreign Exchange Transaction
During your “settling-in” period at this terminal, cash your T/C’s at the banks, (since you still have your passports in hand), and then purchase a one-way air travel ticket to Madinah on the earliest available flight, (all 747 Jumbos and fare approximately 175-200 Riyals).
Encash about US$500.00 per person as this amount will see you through till you reach either Madinah or Makkah.
Onward Travel
Those travelling to Makkah first will either use one of the leaflets of their coupons or look for private transport, if available, (either private air-conditioned coaches/buses/taxis/limousines), or the buses operated by the Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company, SAPTCO). In the latter case, they will pay cash, whilst in the former, “group transport” will be provided by the Unified Agents’ Office in exchange for one of the travel coupon’s leaflets. (Group travel vehicles carry a minimum of 12 passengers, not less). The transfer from Hajj terminal to either Makkah or Madinah by coach will take a long time. You will not be allowed to board until your passport matters are sorted first. In addition, unless you are part of a group which can occupy the whole coach, the authorities will wait until they can find others who can take up the remaining seats. Further, you will need to take your seats first before your luggage is loaded and only then will another round of passport check begin. After the logging of passport is complete the driver will be issued a clearance certificate allowing the bus to leave. Bus/taxi terminal is located at the opposite end of the arrivals’ hall. SAPTCO Jeddah airport offices, (which are not open 24 hours), provide an hourly shuttle to Makkah and Madinah; in the case of the latter, the transport is to Madinah airport and not to the city. At the exit doors of the Saudia Terminal building, (not Hajj Terminal), turn right. The second last office on your right is the SAPTCO office. At the North Terminal, (Foreign Airlines Terminal), SAPTCO offices are right in front of the arrival area at the last section to your left of the car hire and hotel reservation desk. The “yellow cabs” have Saudi Arabian drivers who do not speak anything but Arabic. Their cabs are slightly cheaper than the white limousines and may not be air-conditioned or as new as the limousines. Fares are usually negotiable except for those departing from the airports. International Terminal Those Hujjajj arriving into Saudi Arabia before the second week of Zil Hajj are processed through the International Terminal (North Terminal-Foreign Airlines). In this case, those Hujjaajj proceeding to Madinah by air will have their transport arrangements to Saudia Terminal made by the relevant authorities.
Home | Preparations | Airports | Hajj Terminal (Arrival) | To Madinah | In Madinah | To Makkah In Makkah | Six Days of Hajj | Mina (8th Zil Hajj) | Arafat | Muzdalifah | Back to Mina Makkah (10th Zil Hajj) | Mina (11/12/13th Zil Hajj) | Makkah Departure | Hajj Terminal (Departure) Cost Estimates | Conclusion | Acknowledgements | Contact | Guest Book | Site Map
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