Saudi Arabia allows one million people to perform Hajj this year

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced, on Saturday, that it will allow one million Muslims to perform the Hajj this year from inside and outside the Kingdom, in a noticeable increase after the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic two years ago forced the authorities to significantly reduce the number of pilgrims.

And the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said in a statement: "It was decided to raise the number of pilgrims for the Hajj season this year to one million pilgrims from inside and outside the Kingdom, according to the quotas allocated to countries, taking into account health recommendations."

The number of pilgrims in 2019 reached about 2.5 million, but after the outbreak of the Corona virus in 2020, Saudi Arabia allowed only 1,000 people from within the Kingdom to perform the Hajj, before the number was raised the following year to sixty thousand fully vaccinated, who were chosen by lottery.

The Ministry of Hajj has set regulations stipulating that “this year’s Hajj is for the age group under 65 years, with the requirement to complete immunization with basic doses of Covid-19 vaccines approved by the Saudi Ministry of Health.”

The authorities required pilgrims from outside the Kingdom to submit a negative coronavirus test result for a sample taken within 72 hours before the departure date.

And she stressed the need for pilgrims to abide by the precautionary measures and follow the preventive instructions during the performance of their rituals in order to preserve their health and safety.

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