Jeddah, Sep 22: The Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP) has installed 40 state-of-the-art fingerprint and other devices to detect fake Haj permits and other false documents.
However, Sahir Tahlawi, director general of JIP, told Arab News that no case of bogus Haj document has yet been uncovered.
"The arrival of pilgrims has been going according to plan. There is full coordination around the clock with the Customs Department, the Passport Department and other government agencies operating within the JIP. We are seeking to provide the best possible services to the guests of God," he said.
Two groups of pilgrims arrived by boat yesterday. The first group had 1,196 pilgrims and the second 250.
Fahd Al-Adwani, director of the Haj department at JIP, said that two passenger ferries from Sudan arrive at the port every day. "We expect there will be 34 trips carrying about 18,000 pilgrims, who will keep coming until Dhul Hijjah 4 (Oct. 9)," he said.
"We are coordinating with agencies at the JIP to facilitate the arrival of pilgrims ... so they can perform their religious duty smoothly. There are four fully equipped buses to transport the pilgrims who arrive by air after the entry procedures are completed," he said.
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