Hajj 2020: Saudi Arabia Restricts Foreign Travellers

June 22, 2020July 30, 2020

Saudi Arabia restricts foreign travellers from visiting the country for the annual holy Pilgrimage as a preventive measure against the spread of Covid-19.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday said only persons already living in the country would participate in the Holy pilgrimage that will take place next month.

The decision was taken due to the ongoing threat from the coronavirus pandemic and to preserve “global public health,” the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said.

The ministry said the decision had been made “in light of the continuation of the pandemic and the risks of Coronavirus spreading in crowded spaces and large gatherings.”

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Pilgrims taking part will be from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia.

“This decision is taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols.”

The ministry said Saudi Arabia’s top priority is to always enable Muslim pilgrims can perform Hajj and Umrah safely and securely.

More than two million people perform the annual pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca every year, including many travelling from abroad. But the ongoing scale and spread of Covid-19 worldwide means people will not be able to travel to the Kingdom to take part.

Source: Arab News

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