Doha, October 22 (QNA) - Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, represented by the Department of Hajj and Umrah Affairs, announced on Thursday that more than 12,000 citizens and residents have submitted applications to perform the Hajj pilgrimage for the 1448 AH season following the close of registration on the official electronic portal on October 20.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the ministry explained that the screening and approval of applications will commence next Tuesday in accordance with the regulatory framework governing the Hajj season. Upon completing the screening process, electronic approvals will be issued to qualified candidates, who will be notified directly via SMS text messages.

The ministry said that the State of Qatar's designated allocation for 1448 AH Hajj season stands at 4,400 pilgrims, emphasizing that the selection protocol operates under precise standards to guarantee equity and transparency in quota distribution.

It further indicated that finalizing the selection process at an early date enables accredited Qatari Hajj service operators to complete logistics and administrative preparations well in advance, ensuring the delivery of high-caliber services to pilgrims traveling from Qatar.

The ministry highlighted that the strong turnout on the official portal (hajj.gov.qa) reflects public confidence in its digital ecosystem. It noted that procedural enhancements have successfully streamlined registration, agency selection, and contract finalization through a unified electronic platform, an achievement aligned with the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs Strategy (2025–2030) and Qatar National Vision 2030 targets for digital transformation and institutional excellence. (QNA)