CAIRO (Dispatches) – Saudi Arabia will gradually begin receiving Umrah pilgrimage requests from abroad for vaccinated pilgrims starting Aug. 9 after about a year and a half of not receiving overseas worshippers due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the state news agency (SPA) reported early on Sunday.
The Umrah can be undertaken at any time and usually draws millions from around the globe, unlike the annual hajj, which able-bodied Muslims who have the means must perform at least once in their lifetime.
The Covid-19 pandemic hugely disrupted both Muslim pilgrimages, which are usually key revenue earners for the kingdom that rake in a combined $12 billion annually.
Before Sunday’s announcement, only immunized pilgrims residing in Saudi Arabia were eligible for umrah permits.
Last month only around 60,000 inoculated residents were allowed to take part in a scaled down form of the annual hajj.
An official in the Hajj and Umrah Ministry said domestic and foreign pilgrims will be required to include an authorized COVID-19 vaccination certificate along with the documents needed for the visit.
Vaccinated pilgrims who come from countries on Saudi Arabia’s no entry list will be subject to institutional quarantine upon arrival.
Saudi Arabia has banned travel to or transit from a number of countries including Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Pakistan, South Africa, Turkey, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.
“The Ministry of Interior stresses that citizens are still banned from traveling directly or via another country to these states or any other that has yet to control the pandemic or where the new strains have spread,” the official said.
Riyadh launched a nationwide vaccination program to revive its tourism industry while making jabs mandatory for those seeking to enter government and private spaces, as well as movie theaters, schools and sports venues. The use of public transport also requires a certification by health officials.