Hajj visas from March 1; Makkah approves buildings to accommodate 1.2m pilgrims

A Sau­di committee in charge of housing Muslim pilgrims during the upcoming an­nual Hajj season in the holy city of Makkah has already licensed a total of 1,860 buildings. The licensed buildings can ac­commodate an estimated 1.2 million pilgrims, ac­cording to the government panel. Deputy Governor of Makkah Prince Saud bin Meshal has recently ex­tended the deadline for re­ceiving applications from landlords of such build­ings for licensing them un­til the end of Shawwal, the 10th month in the Islamic lunar month correspond­ing to May 8.