Saudi Arabia opens Umrah pilgrimage to vaccinated worshipers from abroad

Saudi Arabia will gradually begin receiving Umrah pilgrimage requests from abroad for vaccinated pilgrims starting 9th August, after about a year and a half of not receiving overseas worshippers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday.

With a capacity that would rise to two million pilgrims from 60,000 pilgrims per month, Mecca and Medina will start welcoming visitors from abroad to their mosques while maintaining COVID-19 precautionary measures.

An official in the Hajj and Umrah Ministry said domestic and overseas pilgrims will have to submit authorised COVID-19 vaccination certificates along with their Umrah request.

Vaccinated pilgrims from countries, which are on Saudi Arabia’s s entry-ban list, will have to be institutionally quarantined upon arrival, the official added.

WAM