Mapping the UK's Hajj industry (2011-18): Moving towards communication and consensus

Professor Seán McLoughlin

School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science

Responsive Mode Impact Fund

he structure and size of the Hajj travel industry has transformed over the last 30 years. In the UK, the sector is fragmented and in flux, as it strives to professionalise and respond collectively to key issues such as ‘Hajj fraud’ and pilgrim welfare abroad. In collaboration with The Council of British Hajjis (CBHUK) and other key stakeholders such as licensed Hajj organisers, Professor McLoughlin, addresses these pressing questions through the production of the first Hajj Industry Report to map and analyse this rapidly expanding UK sector.

The industry is caught at a bottle-neck as it seeks to reach consensus over self-regulation. Drawing on participant-observation at sector fora and in-depth interviews (2011-2018), and further shaped by three planned consultations, the Report will provide a novel, and necessary, means of identifying the key issues being faced, and, ultimately, a firm foundation from which stakeholders can start addressing them. It will reflect the contours of changing markets, highlight the stumbling blocks and provide an unbiased, independent overview thereby facilitating better-informed communication and discussion. The Report will be launched at the UK Parliament’s APPG on Hajj and Umrah, as well as being condensed and disseminated online for the general public.