Abu Dhabi: Saudi Arabia announced the start of receiving requests for Umrah from various countries of the world gradually, starting Monday, and raising the capacity to 2 million pilgrims per month.
“Starting Monday, August 9, pilgrims from Saudi Arabia and across the world will be welcomed to perform the rituals of Umrah, visit and pray in the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, with a capacity of 60,000, bringing the capacity to 2 million pilgrims per month,” the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said.
It added the issuance of permits will be through the Etamarna and Tawakalna applications, amid an integrated system of services and preventive measures, which the Kingdom has taken to protect safety and health of those wishing to perform the rituals of Umrah.
Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Abdel Fattah Mashat, said the ministry worked in coordination with other authorities before the start of the Umrah season 1443 Hejira, to put in place executive mechanisms and create a safe and easy environment for the pilgrims throughout their journey.
Regarding the standards of safe transport services, Mashat explained that the number of passengers on a bus will not exceed 50 per cent of its capacity, while maintaining a safe distance, providing sanitisers, and ensuring the permits of pilgrims issued by Etamarna and Tawakalna applications before boarding the bus. The transportation centres in the stations of Kadi and Al Shesha, and the gathering points around the Great Mosque of Mecca (Ajyad, Bab Ali, and Al Shabeeka) were well-equipped according to the highest standards and precautionary measures set by the authorities, to welcome pilgrims and worshipers from inside and outside the Kingdom.
Regarding the health protocols for pilgrims from inside the Kingdom, the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah confirmed that vaccination will be a prerequisite for performing Umrah rituals, praying in the Grand Mosque, and visiting the Prophet’s Mosque, as shown by the Tawakalna application for the three categories (vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, or those who spent 14 days after receiving the first dose of the vaccine, or those recovering from infection).
As for the pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom, a vaccination passport must be attached with the application for the performance of the rituals, on condition that the vaccines are approved in the Kingdom, in addition to commitment to the institutional quarantine by passengers coming to the Kingdom from red list countries.
