COVID-19: Saudi Arabia relaunches visits to key Islamic exhibits

Cairo: Saudi Arabia has launched programmes marking the resumption of visits to two major Islamic facilities in the holy city of Mecca as the kingdom prepares to restart Umrah next week.

The launch was made Wednesday by President- General for Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque Abdulrahman Al Sudais. The itineraries are related to popular visits to the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Kaaba Kiswa (cloth covering) and the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques’ Architecture.

During the launch, Al Sudais urged employees of both facilities to implement health precautions to protect visitors, the Saudi news agency SPA reported.

He also underlined the importance of constant development of services at both the complex and the exhibit designated for visits.

Last week, Al Sudais directed the gradual reopening of the complex, the exhibit and the Grand Mosque Library, starting from the first of Rabia Al Awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar.

Starting from Sunday, Saudi Arabia will resume Umrah and visits to the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina according to a gradual plan amid observance of stringent measures against the coronavirus.

Saudis and foreign residents in the kingdom will be allowed in the first phase to perform Umrah at a capacity of 30 per cent amid health precautions.

Muslims abroad will be allowed to go to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah as of November 1.