Saudi Arabia: 140,000 Muslims perform Umrah since November 1

Cairo: Around 140,000 Muslims, including international pilgrims, have performed the Umrah since November 1 when Saudi Arabia initiated a third phase of a plan restarting the ritual, a local newspaper reported Thursday.

Earlier last month, Saudi Arabia launched a plan for gradual resumption of the Umrah after suspension of around seven months due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The first group of pilgrims, coming from outside Saudi Arabia, arrived from Indonesia on November 1 and stayed for three days in mandatory self-isolation at hotels in the Saudi holy city of Mecca as part of precautions against the spread of the coronavirus, Okaz newspaper reported.

They also visited the Prophet Mosque in Medina before they later flew back home. Around 420,000 worshippers have performed prayers in the Grand Mosque in Mecca since the start of the third phase, the paper added.

Social distancing

Chief of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Abdulrahaman Al Sudais has directed redrawing the tracks of the circumambulation around the Kaaba to ensure social distancing among worshippers amid an expected increase in the numbers of the Umrah pilgrims and worshippers in the coming days. Specific tracks will be designed for old people to ensure their safety.

On October 4, Saudi Arabia set into motion the first phase of the Umrah resumption plan, allowing 6,000 Umrah pilgrims from inside the kingdom per day.

The second went into effect on October 18, allowing about 40,000 worshippers and 10,000 pilgrims a day into the Grand Mosque.

As many as 20,000 Umrah pilgrims and 60,000 worshipers per day are allowed to perform prayers at the mosque, according to the current third phase.