Saudi Arabia completes preparations to receive more Umrah pilgrims

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque has completed all preparations to deal with the huge flow of Umrah pilgrims and worshipers as the second phase of the gradual resumption of the pilgrimage and visits to the Two Holy Mosques is set to begin on October 18 (Rabi Al-Awwal 1).

Worshipers will also be permitted to visit Rawdah Sharif and the old mosque area at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah from October 18 onward. The extensions and courtyards of the Prophet’s Mosque were opened for worshipers for obligatory prayers from May 31 this year. Worshipers need to register through the Eatmarna App to obtain permits to perform Umrah as well as to visit the Grand Mosque and Rawdah Sharif.

Foreign pilgrims will be allowed to perform Umrah and visit the Rawdah from November 1, which marks the beginning of the third phase of the gradual lifting of the temporary suspension of the service.

The first phase of the resumption of the Umrah service began on October 4, after a hiatus of seven months.