Saudi Arabia increases cap on number of Umrah pilgrims to 2 million per month

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that it would begin receiving foreign vaccinated Umrah pilgrims starting Monday, August 9.

With a capacity of up to 60,000 Umrah performers divided into 8 operating periods, the overall number of pilgrims has been increased to two million per month, according to a statement issued by state-run Saudi Press Agency.

The issuance of permits to attend the Umrah will be routed through the “Etamarna and Tawakalna” app.

All domestic Umrah pilgrims must be vaccinated, said Saudi’s Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Abdulfattah bin Sulaiman Mashat proof of which will be displayed on the Tawakalna app. They must have either received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, or have completed 14 days after receiving their first dose, or have recently recovered from the infection.

As for Umrah pilgrims visiting from abroad, they must obtain a certificate of immunisation by authorities in the kingdom that must be attached along with their application to attend the Umrah pilgrimage. Furthermore, they must be vaccinated with a vaccine approved by Saudi Arabia.

For pilgrims coming from countries which are on Saudi’s travel red list, they must institutionally quarantine upon arrival in the kingdom before performing the Umrah.

Mashat said that they Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has worked in coordination with several authorities prior to the start of the Umrah 2021-2022 Umrah season, to develop mechanisms to create a safe and accessible environment for the attendees.

Among the many measures for example was the decision to limit the number of passengers on the bus to 50 per cent of its capacity. Mashat also said that the ministry is is also working on approving service providers (Umrah companies, hotels, and transport companies) who can ensure that pilgrims abide by all the precautionary guidelines currently in place in the kingdom.

The kingdom reopened the Grand Mosque in Makkah to domestic Umrah pilgrims on Sunday, July 25, after the Hajj pilgrimage concluded the week prior. According to the Saudi Ministry of Health (MoH), there were no Covid-19 infections recorded among pilgrims participating in this year’s Hajj. The attendance to the Hajj pilgrimage for 2021 was restricted only to residents and citizens residing in the country.

Read: In pics: Pilgrims arrive in Makkah for Hajj amidst strict Covid-19 guidelines