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Worshippers pray around the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in the Grand mosque complex in the Saudi city of Mecca during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
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Saudi authorities said only people immunised against COVID-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round Umrah pilgrimage from the start of Ramadan, the holy fasting month for Muslims.
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Mask-clad worshippers entered Mecca's Grand Mosque in batches to perform the ritual of circling the sacred Kaaba, a cubic structure towards which Muslims around the world pray, along socially distanced paths.
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According to the ministry, three categories of people are considered "immunised" - those who have received two doses of coronavirus vaccine, those administered a single dose at least 14 days prior, and people who have recovered from the infection.
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The policy has effectively raised the Grand Mosque's capacity during Ramadan to accommodate 50,000 umrah pilgrims and 100,000 worshippers per day, according to state media.
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Worshippers arrive for prayers around the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in the Grand mosque complex in the Saudi city of Mecca.
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In late July last year, the kingdom hosted a downsized hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam. Only up to 10,000 Muslim residents of Saudi Arabia were allowed to take part, a far cry from the 2.5 million Muslims from around the world who participated in 2019.
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An aerial view of the Grand Mosque complex in the Saudi city of Makkah, during the first day of Ramadan.
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The Ministry of Interior issued a warning that a SR10,000 ($26,671) fine will be issued to pilgrims wishing to perform Umrah without permits, and a SR1,000 fine for worshippers trying to enter the mosques without one.
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Pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during Umrah, marking the holy month of Ramadan.
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Meanwhile, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance had issued a statement saying that Taraweeh and Qiyam prayers should not exceed 30 minutes in all mosques in the Kingdom. This comes after King Salman issued a decision to permit Taraweeh prayers in the two holy mosques and reduce them to five tasleemat.
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