Muscat – The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs (MERA) launched an initiative on Sunday called Rabat, which will provide financial support of RO120,000 for hajj pilgrims.

H E Dr Wa’il bin Saif al Harrasi, Undersecretary of MERA, informed that the initiative targets 306 pilgrims eligible from the social security families registered with the Ministry of Social Development to perform hajj this year.

Beneficiaries are chosen according to an eligibility criteria approved by MERA through its electronic system for pilgrims.

According to H E Harrasi, the Rabat initiative is linked to the Rabat endowment, which has been providing services to Omani pilgrims and umrah performers for many years.

“Rabat aims to help those who are unable to perform hajj,” he said, and added that MERA is working on a new strategy to improve the endowment system in the sultanate.

Sultan bin Said al Hinai, head of Omani Hajj Mission for 1444 AH, said the mission has completed procedures for the travel of pilgrims from Oman to Saudi Arabia. The pilgrims will leave on June 14.

Ninety-nine per cent of the pilgrims have completed all documentation and requirements for travel to Saudi Arabia.