Saudi Arabia: 450,000 Haj applications in first 24 hours for 60,000 places
Only vaccinated citizens and residents allowed to perform the pilgrimage this year
Dubai: More than 450,000 citizens and residents in Saudi Arabia have applied to perform Haj this year in the first 24 hours after registrations opened. Saudi Arabia has said that the Haj this year will be limited to only 60,000 people.
The Ministry of Haj and Umrah will select 60,000 people from all the applicants for pilgrimage this year, which will begin in mid-July.
The ministry said 60 per cent of applicants are males, 40 per cent females.
According to Abdul Fattah Mashat, deputy Minister of Haj and Umrah, Muslims of all nationalities residing in Saudi Arabia are allowed to register for this year’s Haj.
“Registration is available to all nationalities via the electronic portal. There is no nationality is favoured over another, and priority will be given to those who have not performed the Haj in the past five years,”
Registration will be conducted in two phases to avoid pressure on the process. The selected applicants will get their permits via the portal so as to pay the required fees.
In preparation for the Haj pilgrimage, which is due in mid-July, the ministry has completed the first phase of allocating camps to institutions and companies for pilgrims inside holy sites.