Hajj 2024 is approaching, and I know you’re wondering what facilities you’ll get in Mina camps where you have to spend a significant part of your Hajj journey.
The main concerns of most pilgrims about Mina camps are the distance from Jamarat, the comfort of accommodation, food quality, and, most importantly, clean toilets.
In this guide, I’ll share the latest status of Mina camps, show you inside pictures, and tell you about the facilities in different Mina Maktab Categories.
Please tell me in the comments section at the end of this page if you want any specific information about Mina or Hajj. I will try my best to help you and make your journey easier.
Pictures From Inside Mina Tents
Hajj 2024 has not started yet, so the Mina tent city is still not operational.
However, here’s a video from last year’s Hajj that gives you an inside video of different Mina camps and how pilgrims move from one camp to another.
You can expect the same standard of arrangement this year as well.
Here are the pictures from inside the C and D category camps in the tent city of Mina before last year’s Hajj.
Remember that there’s still work going on in these camps, so they might not reflect their actual facilities. However, you will get a good idea of what you’ll get.
This detailed video shows the inside view of D category Mina camps. As you can see, the facilities are slightly downgraded compared to the higher-priced categories, but the pilgrims are still comfortable in their camps and have all the necessary facilities.
What Are The Facilities In Mina Camps [Maktab Category A, B, C, D]
The facilities in Mina are divided according to the pilgrim’s package category and Maktab. This is why you’ll see a huge difference in the facilities provided to different pilgrims.
Remember, that the luxury facilities you see in the highest-paid Mina camps are managed by the Saudi government only for the pilgrims who pay the required amount.
However, there can be differences in the facilities in the same category. For example, some A-category camps can have better facilities than others. Similarly, some C or D-category camps might get better facilities than other camps in the same Maktab.
This is due to administrative reasons or because of the additional services by the respective travel company.
However, most camps within a maktab get similar services.
Mina Maktab vs. Categories – What Is The Difference?
Mina tents are organized by two parameters – Maktab and categories.
A Maktab consists of camps with similar facilities. Each Maktab is assigned a number and is managed by a separate authority from the Hajj administration.
Maktab number 1 is the closest to Jamarat [where you stone the devil] and also the most expensive. It is followed by Maktab numbers 2, 3, 4, and so on and so forth.
The total number of Maktabs goes well beyond the boundaries of Mina and extends into Muzdalifa (New Mina).
Maktabs are assigned Categories A, B, C, or D based on their distance from the Jamarat and facilities.
For example, Maktab 1 to 6 is A category. Maktab 7 to 25 is B category. Camps in Maktab 26 to 77 are C category. The remaining camps are in the Maktab D category.
However, the Saudi government makes minor changes to the camp categories every year depending on the number of pilgrims and administrative needs.
This is the main reason for the variable pricing in Hajj packages.
Let me describe Mina Maktab Categories in more detail
Mina Maktab A Category – Luxury Camps Inside View
This is the most luxurious category in which the pilgrims get the following facilities.
- Only 10 to 20 pilgrims per camp
- Comfortable sofa cum beds
- Clean and spacious toilets inside the camp
- Mobile charging facility
- Fully air-conditioned
- Carpeted camp alleys
- Closest to Jamarat
- Excellent buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner facilities.
- Unlimited drinks, ice creams, and other food items.
Here are some glimpses from Maktab A category Mina camps from 2022.
Mina Maktab B Category – Best Value For Money
Mina Maktab B is regarded as the best Maktab for several reasons. It is not as expensive as Maktab A category but still offers very comfortable services and is close to Jamarat.
Here are the main facilities in Maktab B category Mina tents.
- Located in old Mina, reasonably close to Jamarat
- Fully air-conditioned camps
- Around 50 pilgrims per camp
- Comfortable sofa cum beds, pillows, and quilts
- Carpeted camps
- Average washrooms inside the camps
- Buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Unlimited coffee, tea, fruits, drinks, ice creams, and other food items.
Here are some pictures of a Maktab 6 camp from category B from last year.
Mina Maktab C Category – Economy Tents
These are economy-class camps slightly away from Jamarat which means the pilgrims need to walk slightly more to perform Rami. But they’re still comfortable.
Here are some of the main facilities in C category mina camps.
- Mattresses and pillows
- Carpeted
- 100+ pilgrims in one camp (can vary from camp to camp, some camps have less)
- Not air-conditioned but cooled with powerful room coolers and fans.
- Washrooms are average, and outside the camps
- Unlimited food and refreshments at fixed times.
Here are some pictures of category C camps from last year.
Mina Maktab D Category – Cheap And Affordable Tents
This is the cheapest and most economical Mina maktab category. Here, the pilgrims are given large camps in New Mina, which is away from the Jamarat.
They’re perfect for people looking to experience the true essence of Hajj. You won’t get the most luxury facilitates in this category, but it is still quite good and acceptable for anyone who has Sabr and is focused on their main goal of performing Hajj.
Here are some of the main facilities you get in the category D Mina tent.
- Large carpeted camps with 100+ pilgrims
- Room coolers, no AC
- Bunker beds in some camps and floor mattresses in some.
- Fixed breakfast, lunch, and dinner times.
- Good quality food, chai, coffee, and beverages
- Average washrooms, often not properly cleaned
How Are Washrooms And Toilets In Mina?
The condition of the toilets and washrooms in Mina is one of the biggest concerns of most pilgrims.
But before telling you more about it, here’s a video of the toilets, wuzu area, and washrooms one of my friends sent me from his Mina camp category B.
So let me be frank.
You won’t get the kind of washrooms available in hotels. They won’t be spacious and you might have to wait for your turn as well.
However, if you’re in category A or B, your toilets and washrooms will be inside your camp and there will be shorter waiting times.
If you’re in category C or D in Mina, the washrooms have longer lines.
So, the best way is to plan your washroom trips. Don’t leave it too late. Go at least an hour before prayers so even if you have to wait for 15-20 minutes, you won’t miss your namaz.
Here’s a picture of a washroom in Mina.
As you can see, they’re not very spacious. Plus, there’s a shower beside the commode as well.
The higher-category camps have slightly bigger and better washrooms. But you will still have to adjust because it’s Hajj and there are too many people waiting for one washroom.
Mina Toilets: My Personal Experience And Advice
I performed Hajj in a category B package in Maktab 6, last year. We had toilets inside the camp but they were crowded.
So, my personal experience and advice is to go to the toilets outside your Mina camp on the main street.
The Saudi government has made large toilet complexes in Mina every kilometer. They’re regularly cleaned and well-maintained.
There are long queues an hour before namaz time. So, leave early and don’t carry important documents to the toilet as you might drop them.
I used the washrooms on the main roads, and it was a pretty good experience. They were much cleaner than the toilets inside my camp and were slightly bigger as well.
So, yes you will have to adjust. But it’s not as bad as some people make it look like.
After all, we’re there for Hajj, and we must bear these things for the sake of Allah.
Are Mina Camps Air-Conditioned?
It depends on your Mina maktab category. Category A and B camps are air-conditioned. Some camps in category C are also air-conditioned.
But mostly, the camps in the C and D categories have room coolers. They’re pretty useful and blow cool air with power.
So, don’t worry too much about this if you’re young and motivated for Hajj.
How Is The Food In Mina Tents?
The food has very good quality across all Mina categories. You get freshly cooked meat, rice, bread, and curry managed by the Saudi government.
Every category has a different menu. the top categories have more dishes and refreshments.
But the Cand D categories also have very good food, although the choices are limited.
Plus, the top categories offer food all the time. The lower categories have fixed time slots.
But again, if you’re there for Hajj, you should be ready to compromise. It’s not a big deal insha Allah.
What Is the Importance Of Staying In Mina Camps During Hajj?
Mina is the camp city in which Hajj pilgrims spend at least four nights during Hajj. When the Hajj rituals commence on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah, the pilgrims relocate from their hotels to Mina camps and stay there on the nights of the 8th,10th, and 11th Dhul Hijjah.
They do so because spending these nights in Mina is a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The Pilgrims spend their nights in mina reciting the Holy Quran, praying Namaz including Tahajjud, and remembering Allah SWT with Zikr.
How you spend time in Mina primarily determines the quality of your Hajj. If you waste your time in worldly discussions, having fun, or worrying about food and toilets, you’ll regret it later.
Many pilgrims aren’t patient enough during their Mina stay and fight with other Hajis over minor things. They forget the true spirit of Hajj, which is sacrifice and humility.
Don’t make that mistake.
It is critical that you value every moment you get in Mina and use it to connect with Allah SWT, repent from your past sins, and indulge in worship and prayers.