Saudi Arabia's economy is facing pressures due to lowered oil prices a trend that is expected to further accelerate after apparent lifting of sanctions from Iran by the West. Fearing threat from the dissidents within the family, the Kingdom had increased the stipends of royal family members besides launching youth welfare program.
The additional expenses were to be met by increasing tourism via Haj. A massive expansion program was initiated in haste and in order to save the time required to remove inactive cranes from the site.
Is it possible to converge over 3 million pilgrims at one point - Mina - in one single day? Despite being incapacitated, Saudi Government tries to expand and increase the number every year. Faith Economy contribute a major share to Saudi Arabia's economy. Many faithful are raising question if it is wise to spend Haj money in Saudi Arabia's war over Yemen? Or is it possible that Haj Economy be handed over to an OIC designated board instead of Saudi Royal family already becoming a source of embarrassment for Muslims among international community?
The frustration is increasing as the aged authoritarian rulers of Saudi Arabia are struggling to keep a grip on the power in a changing world. There is a large segment of Muslim intelligentsia believing that Haj money requires to be accounted for and its disposal be made transparent by making the data available on the Website. On average a pilgrim spend US 4000 $ during Haj (Fortune / Washington post statistics) MOre than 3 million pilgrims and where the money goes??? A colossal amount it is and Muslim world remains under developed as the officially sanctions Islam of Saudi Family does not allow any other country to even maintain religious site other than mosques.
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