ABU DHABI // Ministers approved a new draft law yesterday to regulate organisers of Haj and Umrah pilgrimages.

The new regulations were approved at a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace, the state news agency Wam reported.

Fines and penalties will be imposed on companies that fail to offer adequate services to pilgrims and travellers.

"We adopted the proposal of an integrated organisation of contractors for Haj and Umrah for the development of the services provided for pilgrims, so as to maintain the rights of all parties," Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said on Twitter.

Sheikh Mohammed chaired the Cabinet meeting in his role as Prime Minister.

The draft law covers procedures and practices, conditions for licensing and renewals, sanctions and the obligations of contractors.

The Cabinet also approved a request from the Federal National Council to discuss the general policy of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, as well as a federal law renaming the National Centre for Documentation and Research as "The National Archive".

The Minister of State, Reem Al Hashemi, was also named chair of the Board of Directors of the National Centre for Statistics.

tsubaihi@thenational.ae