The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced the start of receiving guests from among citizens and residents, as well as gradually accepting Umrah requests from various countries around the world beginning Monday, the first of Muharram 1443 AH, corresponding to August 9, 2021. This is for performing the rituals of Umrah and visiting the Holy Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, with a capacity of up to 60,000 pilgrims distributed over 8 operational periods, allowing a total monthly capacity of 2 million pilgrims. Permits will be issued through the "Umrahna" and "Tawakkalna" applications, within a comprehensive system of services and precautionary measures taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure the safety and health of those wishing to perform Umrah and visit, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) through its official Twitter account.
Dr. Abdul Fattah bin Suleiman Mashat, the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, clarified that the ministry, in coordination with other relevant agencies, worked before the start of the Umrah season 1443 AH to establish the implementation mechanisms and prepare a safe and convenient environment for the guests throughout their journey to ensure security, safety, and health.
Regarding safe transportation services, he stated that the number of passengers in buses will not exceed 50% of the bus's capacity, while maintaining a safe distance inside the bus and providing sanitizers. Also, it will be verified that pilgrims have the permits issued through the "Umrahna" and "Tawakkalna" applications before boarding the bus. He pointed out that the transportation centers at the (Kadi and Shasha) stations, and the gathering points around the Grand Mosque (Ajiad, Bab Ali, Shubayka) have been equipped according to precise procedures to apply the highest standards of health precautionary measures set by the authorities to welcome pilgrims and worshippers from inside and outside the Kingdom.
Mashat confirmed that guests granted entry permits to the Grand Mosque through the "Umrahna" and "Tawakkalna" applications can pay for this optional service through these applications, in order to save time and avoid waiting at transportation centers. He indicated that the ministry is coordinating with relevant authorities to identify the countries from which pilgrims come, and their numbers periodically based on the classification of precautionary measures and conditions specific to the countries from which pilgrims and visitors come to the Kingdom. This includes approving service providers (Umrah companies, hotels, and transportation companies) qualified according to the regulations of this exceptional phase and health protocols, and making their services available for display through approved electronic marketing platforms in the Saudi central booking engine.
Additionally, electronic approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will be required for contracts between external agents and Saudi Umrah companies, in line with remote work requirements to protect against the risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Mashat also noted, as stated by SPA, that vaccination will be a fundamental requirement for performing Umrah rituals, praying in the Grand Mosque, and visiting the Prophet's Mosque, according to what the "Tawakkalna" application shows for the three vaccination categories (vaccinated with two doses of the coronavirus vaccine, vaccinated 14 days after receiving the first dose, or recovered from infection) for all age groups of vaccinated domestic pilgrims.
For pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom, it is required to attach a certified vaccination certificate from the official authorities in the pilgrim's country to the request for performing the rituals, with the condition that the vaccines be approved in the Kingdom, in addition to a declaration of the accuracy of the information and commitment to the institutional quarantine procedures for travelers coming to the Kingdom from countries where the direct entry is still suspended, according to the mechanisms approved by the relevant authorities.
