Saudi Arabia to allow limited umrah pilgrimage beginning Oct. 4
After a seven-month suspension, Saudi Arabia will allow Muslim pilgrims to perform umrah in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
In a bid to revive its coronavirus-battered religious tourism industry, Saudi Arabia will gradually allow its citizens and residents to undertake the year-round umrah pilgrimage beginning Oct. 4.
“In response to the aspirations of many Muslims at home and abroad,” some 6,000 worshippers will be permitted to perform the pilgrimage and enter the Grand Mosque in Mecca each day under the new rules, the Interior Ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. By Nov. 1, Saudi officials plan to welcome up to 20,000 pilgrims and 60,000 worshippers daily from a list of countries considered safe for travel.
Pilgrims can register their visits on a mobile app developed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The Ministry of Interior urged those attending to follow health protocols, including wearing face masks and avoiding physical contact.
In March, the kingdom put umrah pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina on hold as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The Islamic pilgrimage can be performed at any point during the year and attracts some 19 million people to the holy cities annually.
