It is not permissible to accommodate pilgrims except in residences that comply with the technical standards, general specifications, security and safety requirements, and health regulations stated in this regulation, in accordance with the provisions of the system for residences prepared for accommodating pilgrims.

Fieldwork teams for monitoring and follow-up are formed by the Housing Committee according to the organization deemed appropriate by the Emirate of the region, and each team includes the following:

A. A technician from the Secretariat.

B. An administrative employee from the Ministry of Hajj.

C. A non-commissioned officer from the Police Department.

D. A safety non-commissioned officer from the Civil Defense Department.

• Tasks and Responsibilities of the Housing Committee:

• A- The main Housing Committee in both Mecca and Medina is responsible for announcing to citizens wishing to rent their homes for the accommodation of pilgrims through various media outlets at multiple intervals and on a regular basis, ensuring that the committee announces and distributes the conditions and requirements that must be met in the accommodations for pilgrims.

• B- Supervising and monitoring the performance of engineering offices and ensuring that they fulfill their responsibilities as required, conducting periodic inspections of samples of the accommodations to ensure that the reports prepared by the engineering offices match reality and that there are no violations.

• C- Full supervision of the work of the field housing teams and overcoming any obstacles they encounter in their work.

• D- The secretariat is responsible for providing a headquarters for the Housing Committee and its field teams.

• E- The Housing Committee determines all its needs for requirements and field teams and submits them to His Highness the Emir of the region to issue the appropriate order to the participating entities in the committee to secure those needs or in a manner deemed appropriate by His Highness.

• F- Verifying the completion of the procedures for issuing the permit and the availability of the conditions stated in this regulation and applying them, and issuing the housing permit accordingly.

• G- Ensuring the continued availability of all conditions stated in this regulation under which the permit was granted during its validity period.

• H- Evacuating pilgrims from accommodations that pose a danger to the safety of their residents, revoking the permit for the violating building, and prohibiting housing therein until the violation is rectified and the safety of its status is verified.

• I- The Housing Committee is responsible for addressing any observations received from the responsible authorities.

•  The tasks of the field housing teams before and during the Hajj season are as follows:

• A- Ensuring that the approved engineering consulting offices implement all architectural requirements and safety measures in the building for which a housing permit for pilgrims is to be issued or renewed.

• B- Inspecting samples of the accommodations intended for rent to pilgrims to ensure that all required conditions are met.

• C- Ensuring the existence of housing permits.

• D- Implementing the decision of the Housing Committee to close accommodations that are unfit for housing pilgrims, sealing them, and cutting off services.

• E- Monitoring activities during the season to ensure the availability of safety measures, electricity, water, cleanliness, and sanitary facilities throughout the duration of the pilgrims' stay in the accommodation. The committee and its teams should notify the person responsible for the establishment before the inspection begins, and it is preferable for the responsible person to accompany the committee during the inspection while considering the rest times and privacy of the guests.

• F- Reporting to the committee promptly about any violations that may harm the health of the pilgrims or reflect an undesirable image of the Kingdom.

Procedures for Obtaining the Permit:

1. The period for issuing permits for buildings designated for housing pilgrims begins on the first of the month of Muharram and continues until the end of the month of Rajab, with the final deadline for issuing permits being the end of the month of Sha'ban.

2. Permits issued in accordance with the provisions of the Housing System and its executive regulation are valid for the Hajj season of the year in which they were issued, and they are renewed each year without the need for re-inspection by qualified engineering offices, for a maximum of three consecutive seasons, unless the Committee receives information indicating a violation by the lessor, or any alterations or modifications to the building, whether by addition, removal, or breach of the conditions.

3. Applications are submitted to the accredited consulting engineering offices in both Mecca and Medina.

4. The accredited consulting engineering offices, appointed by the Secretariat and the Civil Defense, are tasked with inspecting the housing for pilgrims to verify compliance with the conditions set forth in this regulation and to apply them, issuing a certificate based on which the housing permit is granted.

5. The Main Housing Committee issues the necessary permits.

 Regarding the accommodation of pilgrims in the holy sites, the following procedures shall be followed:

1.  The Housing Committee in Mecca shall coordinate directly with the Ministry of Hajj whenever necessary to inspect the camps and buildings designated for the accommodation of pilgrims in the holy sites according to their locations, to ensure their proper establishment and equipping with the required services such as (water, lighting, cleanliness, ventilation, and restrooms) and to ensure that these services are provided to the pilgrims in the best possible manner by the Tawafa institutions and companies and domestic pilgrim service institutions, in accordance with the regulations and instructions issued by the Ministry of Hajj and any updates in this regard.

2. Addressing any violations that occur in the holy sites in accordance with the system for homes prepared for the accommodation of pilgrims and its executive regulations, as well as the regulations and instructions available at the Ministry of Hajj.

3. Safety measures must be available in all camps and buildings in the holy sites according to the instructions and regulations issued by the Civil Defense in this regard and the Saudi Building Code.