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Tawfiq: The Preferential Exchange Rate Reduces Hajj Costs and the Energy Efficiency Program Expands Energy Solutions in Mosques
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Ahmed Tawfiq, the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, revealed that the committee in charge of Hajj has set a fixed cost for performing Hajj at 65,000 dirhams, with the final cost to be determined later. He highlighted that the Hajj season of 1446 saw a decrease in costs compared to the 1445 season, amounting to a reduction of 3,095 dirhams, stabilizing the final cost around 63,770.50 dirhams.
During the weekly oral question session at the House of Counselors, Tawfiq explained that the cost of Hajj is determined based on several factors, including airfare, accommodation, and the 15 percent value-added tax imposed by Saudi authorities, in addition to the exchange rate utilized in Hajj-related transactions.
The Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs also noted that the ministry initiated coordination early in the 1446 season with Bank Al-Maghrib, which allowed for the adoption of a preferential exchange rate of 2.6118 dirhams for each Saudi riyal—lower than the rate used in the previous season—contributing directly to the overall reduction in Hajj costs.
In response to a question about the energy efficiency program for mosques, Tawfiq stated that the program aims to provide mosques with the necessary equipment to meet their electricity, hot water, and lighting needs by utilizing energy-efficient LED bulbs and installing solar-powered water heaters, in addition to implementing photovoltaic solutions for electricity generation.
He emphasized that by 2025, interventions in the field of energy efficiency have been completed at a total cost of 139 million dirhams, resulting in the equipping of 7,135 mosques with energy-efficient lighting, 967 mosques with water heaters, and 72 mosques with solar panels. Furthermore, 12 training sessions were organized for central and external department staff, and 23 awareness workshops benefited over 700 guides and trainers for literacy classes in mosques.
Tawfiq added that the ministry also rehabilitated the internal electrical network of 950 mosques, granted the “Green Mosque” quality label to approximately 1,900 mosques, implemented an information system to track energy consumption, and began relying on remote monitoring systems for energy use, leading to a 43 percent reduction in electricity consumption in the mosques participating in the program.
Regarding rural mosques, the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs confirmed that they receive the same level of care as urban mosques, revealing that the financial allocation for them amounts to around 296 million dirhams, or about 41 percent of the investment budget.
Tawfiq explained that the ministry has managed to address the status of 2,023 closed mosques out of 3,120, rehabilitating and reopening 1,470 mosques for worshipers at a cost of 1.9 billion dirhams, while continuing work on the rehabilitation of 568 mosques with a total cost of 849 million dirhams.
