The appointment of Dr. Sidi Yahya Ould Cheikhna Ould El Marabet as Minister of Islamic Affairs and Original Education marks a fundamental turning point in the management of Hajj in Mauritania. With a rationalized and visionary approach, the minister has initiated a break from past bureaucratic practices, which for decades had hindered the efficiency and transparency of Hajj organization.
In a global context where the demand for pilgrimage is constantly increasing, and logistical requirements are becoming increasingly complex, Mauritania is now adopting a proactive, strategic, and socially equitable approach, promoting broader accessibility for pilgrims, qualitative improvement of services, and cost rationalization.
Reduction in Hajj Costs: An Optimized Financial Strategy
The 2025 Hajj represents an unprecedented budgetary revolution in Mauritania, with a reduction in the total cost to 271,485 new ouguiyas, a decrease of 11,171 ouguiyas compared to the previous year. This significant reduction is not merely a political gesture but the result of a deep restructuring of past agreements with service providers, ensuring more efficient financial management of resources allocated to pilgrims.
Moving away from archaic budgetary administration models, where costs were often inflated due to mismanagement and lack of transparency, this new direction reflects a refocusing on optimizing public expenditure, maximizing economic benefits for citizens rather than imposing excessive costs.
This structural transformation is based on:
🔹 Rigorous renegotiation of contracts with service providers, ensuring greater financial transparency and eliminating unnecessary expenses.
🔹 Tight supervision of logistical expenses, prioritizing budget allocation efficiency over wasteful and opaque spending.
🔹 Alignment with international pilgrimage management standards, ensuring cost optimization and high-quality services.
Modernization of Services and Logistical Reconfiguration of Hajj
The cost reduction has not led to a decline in service quality for pilgrims. On the contrary, a newly structured organizational framework has been established, giving Hajj a more fluid and well-structured logistical dimension.
🔹 Establishment of independent monitoring committees, responsible for ensuring that service providers meet their commitments.
🔹 Development of a modernized management framework, incorporating centralized logistical operations, ensuring optimal responsiveness in case of issues.
🔹 Standardization of medical and logistical support protocols, ensuring personalized assistance for pilgrims.
This organizational reform aims for a holistic approach to pilgrimage, where each aspect (logistical, medical, financial) is integrated within a coherent framework, ensuring increased fluidity and better anticipation of potential constraints.
Relocation of Pilgrim Camp: A Revolution in Pilgrim Experience
One of the major innovations introduced this year is the strategic relocation of the Mauritanian pilgrim camp, now just 1,600 meters from the Jamarat (stoning site).
This logistical repositioning, while seemingly technical, is in fact a fundamental transformation that directly impacts the physical and psychological well-being of pilgrims.
The benefits of this reconfiguration are numerous:
✔ Significant reduction in physical fatigue, especially for elderly and vulnerable pilgrims.
✔ Improved crowd flow management, preventing excessive congestion and ensuring smoother movement.
✔ Optimization of travel time, providing pilgrims a more serene and manageable experience.
This relocation represents a spatial reengineering of Hajj, reflecting a proactive adaptation to the real needs of pilgrims, rather than merely organizing the event passively.
Request for Increased Mauritanian Quota: A Strategic Religious Diplomacy
Based on recent demographic data, which establishes Mauritania’s population at five million inhabitants, the government has officially submitted a request to increase its pilgrim quota.
This initiative is built on a rigorous analysis of international quota allocation criteria, relying on:
🔹 Transparent demographic projection, demonstrating the necessity of adapting supply to the increasing demand from citizens.
🔹 A diplomatic approach based on a solid argument, positioning Mauritania as an active and structured player in managing its pilgrim contingents.
🔹 A firmly stated political will to enhance Hajj accessibility, avoiding unjustified restrictions limiting Mauritanian participation.
This advocacy aligns with Mauritania’s repositioning on the international Islamic stage, affirming its role in defending the rights of its citizens to perform Hajj under optimal conditions.
Towards a New Hajj Management Model: From Rigid Bureaucracy to Operational Excellence
What distinguishes this Hajj reform is that it is not a mere administrative update, but rather a systemic overhaul of pilgrimage management.
Where past approaches were characterized by bureaucratic rigidity, lack of transparency, and inefficient organization, the new paradigm introduced by Dr. Sidi Yahya Ould Cheikhna Ould El Marabet is based on:
🔹 Governance focused on performance and financial accountability.
🔹 Strengthening control and regulatory mechanisms.
🔹 Logistical optimization aligned with international best practices.
This transformation is more than a temporary adjustment; it represents a conceptual revolution in pilgrimage administration, reflecting a firm political will to establish a more efficient, equitable, and sustainable model.
By relying on modernized, transparent, and user-centered management, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs redefines the standards of Hajj in Mauritania, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring optimal access to a fundamental pillar of Islam under dignified conditions tailored to the needs of Mauritanian citizens.
Read more on this link: https://www.elhodh.info/en/al-hawd-news-2/
