KUWAIT CITY, July 3: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs (MoIA) has issued an official circular outlining the registration procedures for the 1447 AH Hajj season, which will be conducted through a lottery system. The circular was directed to all licensed Hajj trip organizers and comes as part of ongoing cooperative efforts to serve pilgrims effectively, following the decision of the Supreme Hajj and Umrah Committee in its first meeting of the year 1447 AH.

According to the circular released Wednesday, registration for the upcoming Hajj season will be facilitated through the government’s unified electronic services application, Sahel. This registration process will remain open across several seasons until all applicants are processed. Registrants will maintain their lottery ranking until their nomination application is submitted.

The circular detailed the general registration criteria and policies, stipulating that applicants must be Kuwaiti nationals who have not previously performed Hajj. Groups are limited to no more than five relatives, and women may include one mahram who has already completed Hajj. Additionally, each group may register one resident relative.

Applicants can modify or replace pilgrims during the registration period by paying a non-refundable fee of 10 Kuwaiti dinars (approximately $32.80) at the time of expressing their intent to perform Hajj. Following the sorting and registration confirmation with a campaign, pilgrims are required to pay the Hajj cost amounting to 1,500 Kuwaiti dinars (around $4,900). Failure to pay within the designated timeframe will result in the application being canceled.

Once accepted and registered with a campaign, pilgrims are permitted a one-time campaign change before January 15, 2026. Such changes will be contingent upon availability, with replacement candidates selected according to the lottery ranking. The new candidate will then have three days to complete the payment of 1,500 dinars.

The circular clarifies that the sorting and acceptance process will strictly follow the lottery system, with notifications sent through the Sahel application. The cancellation policy allows pilgrims to receive refunds if cancellations are made before January 18, 2026; cancellations after this date will forfeit the full amount. The Ministry announced that further details regarding payment methods and registration deadlines will be provided in subsequent circulars.

This comprehensive framework aims to streamline the Hajj registration process, ensuring fairness and transparency for all applicants.