Saudi Arabia ended the uncertainty by deciding, Monday, June 22, to maintain the large Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca at the end of July, with a "very limited number" of faithful, despite the pandemic of new coronavirus which "continues to accelerate, "according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Only people of all nationalities "inside the Saudi kingdom" will be able to perform the hajj, in accordance with the precautionary measures intended to contain the spread of the virus.

The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Due to its large influx - 2.5 million Muslims in 2019 - it can also become a huge vector for the contagion of the new coronavirus, with worshipers from around the world.

Saudi Arabia is the Arab country in the Gulf most affected by the new coronavirus, with an increase in the number of infections. Authorities have officially identified more than 161,000 people infected, of whom 1,307 have died.

"Objectives of Islamic Law"

To contain the spread of the disease, Saudi Arabia suspended in March the small pilgrimage, the "Umrah", which takes place all year round in Mecca and Medina, the two holiest places in Islam. located in the west of the country.

With a "very limited" hajj, the Saudi authorities say they want to "meet the requirements of prevention and social distancing necessary to ensure security and protection" of the faithful, while "achieving the objectives of Islamic law".

Expecting a cancellation or at least strong restrictions, most Muslim countries had already suspended travel formalities for the hajj in recent weeks, disappointing millions of devotees who sometimes devote all their savings to this pilgrimage.

Loss of income

This "very limited" hajj is likely to affect the economy of Saudi Arabia which, the world's leading exporter of crude oil, is already hit hard by the fall in oil prices, causing its public revenues to fall.

In May, Riyadh had to triple the amount of VAT and announce the end of social benefits, in order to control a budget deficit that could reach the record level of 112 billion dollars (about 103.5 billion euros) this year.

During the hajj and the omra, the pilgrims inject each year 10.6 billion euros into the Saudi economy, according to the government, an amount on which the kingdom will have to put an end and which would have been welcome in these times of austerity.

The great pilgrimage is one of the other sources of income to which the kingdom wishes to redirect its economy as part of the reform plan of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who wants to rid his country of its dependence on oil.

With AFP

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