ibank is conducting a lucky draw ceremony for the Hajj pilgrimage travel package for the year 2023, alongside announcing the collaboration with Thai Airways for Al-Hajj and Umrah deposit products

On December 7, 2023, Islamic Bank of Thailand (ibank) held a lucky draw ceremony to select recipients of the Hajj pilgrimage travel package for the year 2023, with a total of 12 prizes. Alongside the introduction of Al-Hajj and Umrah deposit products, an extension from their existing product line of Al-Hajj deposit accounts. And announced a partnership with Thai Airways, increasing the number of prizes to 45, totaling a value of 7.65 million baht, with the honor of Mr. Chada Thaised, Deputy Minister of Interior, presiding over the ceremony held at the Al Meroz Hotel, Ramkhamhaeng, Bangkok.

Dr. Thaweelap Rittapirom, Director and President of the Islamic Bank of Thailand, reported, “The Al-Hajj savings account is a savings deposit account designed specifically for Muslims who aim to financially plan for the Hajj pilgrimage through savings. The Bank promotes this type of savings because we fully understand the significance of this religious endeavor, which every Muslim brother and sister aspires to undertake if given the opportunity at least once in their lifetime. Starting in the year 2015, the Bank initiated its first marketing campaign, organizing a lucky draw event for the Al-Hajj deposit account, offering a chance to win a Hajj pilgrimage travel package, this initiative has now reached its 9th year.

In the year 2023, the activity spanned from March 10, 2023, to October 31, 2023. During this period, there were accounts for Al-Hajj savings that met the specified conditions set by the Bank. Through a lucky draw method, these account holders had the chance to compete for a Hajj pilgrimage travel package, with a probability of 45 percent. There were a total of 473,791 ticket entries. In this draw, the Bank awarded 12 Hajj pilgrimage travel packages to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, totaling a prize value of 3,000,000 Baht. These prizes included sponsored round-trip airfare tickets for 12 seats on the Bangkok-Jeddah route provided by Thai Airways International Public Company Limited.

On this occasion, the Bank officially launched the Al-Hajj and Umrah deposit accounts, commencing services from December 1, 2023. Those products are savings deposit accounts suitable for individuals aged 15 and above who adhere to the Islamic faith, or legal entities with employees adhering to the Islamic faith. These accounts can be opened with a minimum deposit of just 500 Baht and offer returns twice a year, at the end of every June and December. If, at any time during a continuous three-month period, the average daily balance reaches 2,000 Baht per month, the Bank grants the account holder a chance to win one Hajj pilgrimage travel package or Umrah to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The calculation for this opportunity is based on a monthly basis. The more you deposit, the greater the chance to win prizes. Besides the Al-Hajj and Umrah deposit accounts, the Bank will expand the purpose of saving for Hajj pilgrimage to include Umrah pilgrimage. Additionally, the Bank will extend the benefits to customers who meet the Bank’s criteria. The number of prizes will increase from the previous 12 to 45, divided into 20 prizes of Hajj pilgrimage travel packages, each valued at 270,000 Baht, totaling 5,400,000 Baht. There will also be 25 prizes of Umrah pilgrimage travel packages, each valued at 90,000 Baht, totaling 2,250,000 Baht. The total value of prizes will amount to 7,650,000 Baht.

Moreover, the Bank has enhanced the prize receiving conditions to be more flexible. Winners now have the option to transfer the prize to their descendants or heirs as permitted by law if they choose not to undertake the journey themselves. Additionally, in cases where the winner is a legal entity or an organization, they are allowed to transfer the prize to employees within the organization.”

Prior to commencing the lucky draw ceremony, Mr. Chada Thaised, Deputy Minister of Interior, presided over the ceremony and delivered opening remarks. Following that, the Deputy Minister of Interior, the Director and President of the Islamic Bank of Thailand, along with Mr. Korakot Chatasingha, Chief of Commercial, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, honored the occasion by drawing the winners for the Hajj pilgrimage travel packages for the year 2023, totaling 12 prizes. Furthermore, we were honored by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maroning Salaeming, Chairman of the Shariah Advisory Council to the Islamic Bank of Thailand, and Mr. Ibrahim Al Barnawi, First Secretary and Representative of the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Thailand, to draw an additional 15 reserve prizes. Ajarn Arun Boonchom, who was elected as a Sheikhul Islam of Thailand, and Mr. Somsak Charoenpaitoon, Deputy Director General, Department of Provincial Administration, honored the event as esteemed witnesses.

Moreover, the 12 lucky winners are listed as follows:

The additional reserve prizes of 15 awards have the following list of names:

After the conclusion of the lucky draw ceremony for the Hajj pilgrimage travel packages for the year 2023, there was a symposium on the topic ‘Hajj and Umrah: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey, the Duty of the Faithful.’ Several speakers from various sectors related to Hajj and Umrah affairs participated in discussions and exchanged experiences. Among them was Dr. Thaweelap Rittapirom, Director and President of the Islamic Bank of Thailand, Mr. Korakot Chatasingha, Chief of Commercial, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, Mr. Ismail Singhad, an expert in Hajj affairs at the Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior, and Dr. Muhammad Labaichi, Managing Director of Intan Express Limited Partnership, the winner of the bidding to organize the Hajj pilgrimage travel package for the Hajj ceremony in the Islamic year 1455, with over 250 participants attending the event.