Riyadh, Nov. 16 -- Saudi Arabia has approved major amendments to the Foreign Pilgrim Service Providers Law, abolishing the long-standing tawafa bodies and replacing them with a new system of Haj hospitality companies.

Under the changes, approved by the Council of Ministers, 21 articles of the existing law have been amended and a new article (19 bis) added, restructuring the sector and redefining service responsibilities, Arabic daily Okaz reported.

Key classifications

The amended law establishes four categories of licensed Haj hospitality companies:

Companies serving pilgrims in Makkah and the holy sites

Companies providing water to pilgrims in their residences within Makkah

Companies responsible for receiving and transporting pilgr...