RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has reopened the Muslim holy places for the Umrah pilgrimage on Sunday (Today), after seven months.
As per media reports, Saudi Arabia had restricted Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages in wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Saudi government took the decision after implementing extensive health precautions and COVID-19 SOPs.
Saudi officials said the Umrah will be revived in three stages. In the initial phase, only 6,000 citizens and residents in the kingdom are permitted to perform Umrah.
#يحدث_الآن المعتمرون يستقلون الباصات من مركز نقل المعتمرين في كدي استعدادًا للتوجه للحرم المكي الشريف … #تطبيق_اعتمرنا pic.twitter.com/gywxIiFd2S
— وزارة الحج والعمرة (@HajMinistry) October 3, 2020
Besides, the pilgrims have been given time of three hours to perform their Umrah rituals. The pilgrims will be divided into groups to make sure social distancing within the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
Worshippers will now be able to perform the ritual of circling the sacred Kaaba along socially distanced paths.
Meanwhile, the Saudi government intends to increase the number of pilgrims to 15,000 per day from October 18, while 40,000 people allowed to perform prayers at the mosque.
Visitors from abroad will be allowed from 1st November, when capacity will be raised to 20,000 pilgrims, with 60,000 people permitted into the mosque. The pilgrims are bound to get themselves register via a special application called ‘Amarna’.
#يحدث_الآن الفوج الأول من المعتمرين يطابقون تصريح العمرة على #تطبيق_اعتمرنا استعدادًا للدخول إلى الحرم المكي مع بداية العمرة … نسأل الله لهم القبول pic.twitter.com/OgfpjoYsuP
— وزارة الحج والعمرة (@HajMinistry) October 3, 2020
The pilgrims hailing from Pakistan and other countries will be permitted to perform the religious ritual from 15 Raibul Awal. Measures to prevent coronavirus during Umrah will be strictly followed.
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