Jeddah: Saudi Arabia will gradually begin receiving Umrah pilgrimage applications from abroad for vaccinated pilgrims, starting August 9, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported early on Sunday.
The kingdom is receiving the requests after about a year and a half of not allowing overseas worshippers due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
An official of the Saudi Hajj and Umrah Ministry said that vaccinated pilgrims from countries that Saudi Arabia includes on its entry-ban list will have to be institutionally quarantined upon arrival.
“Saudi government will also increase the overall capacity of the pilgrims to two million per month with certain conditions,” he added.
Moreover, domestic and overseas pilgrims will have to include authorized COVID-19 vaccination certificates along with their Umrah request.
Reportedly, with a capacity that would rise to 2 million pilgrims from 60,000 pilgrims per month, Mecca and Medina will start welcoming visitors from abroad to their mosques.
No evidence of torture in deaths of two women in police custody: Lahore police chief
- a day ago
Everybody needs a personal AI policy. Just ask Hank Green.
- 8 hours ago
PM launches first-ever National Youth Employment Policy
- 18 hours ago
Iran, US not discussing ceasefire extension, senior Iranian official says
- 21 hours ago
Apple could help you prove your iPhone photos aren’t deepfakes
- an hour ago
How Ukraine is holding its own against Russia — and changing warfare as we know it
- 8 hours ago
Costco’s great Switch 2 console bundle includes over $100 in free stuff
- 10 hours ago
Trump’s catering truck caper
- 8 hours ago
Keychron’s wireless Hall effect keyboard is back to its lowest price
- 10 hours ago
Israel can afford to lose US aid
- a day ago
ChatGPT and Gemini both just passed 1 billion users
- 10 hours ago
Joby flexes military muscle with $500 million defense acquisition
- an hour ago
