Cabinet decision on Umrah and Haj issued

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday issued Cabinet decision No. 32 of 2018 on the Haj and Umrah.

The decision, which was published in the latest issue of the Official Gazette, prohibits any natural or legal person from exercising the business of arranging or advertising the service of Haj Al Badal (proxy Haj), without obtaining a licence from the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE).

The decision also prohibits receiving requests and collecting donations for the Haj and Umrah without getting a permit.

It provides for the establishment of a licensing committee in the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments to decide on the application to grant or waive the Haj and Umrah permit besides any related requests. The committee will be responsible for approving contracts concluded between Haj campaigns as well as the merger and transfer of pilgrims in campaigns.

Shaikh Mohammad’s decision also stipulates the establishment of an audit committee on service contracts, a Haj Affairs Office.

Shaikh Mohammad also issued Cabinet decision No. 31 of 2018 on communitysupported agriculture. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change shall implement the provisions of the decision, dealing with ways to utilise residential spaces and roofs of buildings and educational institutions for agricultural activity.