Expatriates based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can no longer obtain Haj permits for their Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the Gulf News reported.
“The move means that only citizens of the UAE will be issued Haj permits to perform the pilgrimage this year and in the future,” Dr Ahmad Al Mousa, spokesman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, told the Gulf News.
The National reported that the move is “due to stricter adherence to national quotas” by the UAE.
The issuance of Haj permits is not without its own issues in the Philippines.
Last year, 177 Indonesians fraudulently obtained Philippine passports by paying Filipinos and using local identities to be able to join the pilgrimage.
The Indonesians had allegedly paid a hefty $6,000 to $10,000 each to use Philippine passports and Filipino identities to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca using slots given to Filipinos by the Saudi government, as Indonesian slots have all been taken.
They were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport prior to their Madinah-bound Philippine Airlines flight, after being unable to speak the local language during exchanges with immigration personnel.
The Philippine foreign affairs department at the time suspended the issuance of Hajj passports and ordered an investigation into possible involvement in the scam from among their ranks.
