Saudi Arabia sets date for resumption of Umrah Pilgrimage

Saudi Arabia authorities says gradual resumption of the year-round umrah pilgrimage will commence from October 4.

The resumption of the mini Pilgrimage is coming seven months after it was shut as part of the measures to reduce the continuous spread of the surging COVID-19 pandemic.

OnyxNews Nigeria reports that the interior ministry of Arabian country made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency, In the first stage, “6,000 citizens and residents within the kingdom will be allowed to perform the umrah per day from October 4”

Saudi Arabia sets date for resumption of Umrah Pilgrimage.

Then visitors from outside the kingdom will be permitted from November 1, when umrah’s capacity will be raised to 20,000 pilgrims per day, the ministry said.

The ministry said umrah would be allowed to resume at full capacity once the threat of the pandemic is eliminated.

The umrah, which refers to the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of the year, attracts millions of Muslims from across the globe each year.

Saudi Arabia suspended the umrah in March and scaled back the annual hajj over fears that the coronavirus could spread to Islam’s holiest cities.

The pilgrimages are a massive logistical challenge, with colossal crowds cramming into relatively small holy sites, making them vulnerable to contagion.

The decision to resume umrah was in response to the “aspirations of Muslims home and abroad” to perform the ritual and visit the holy sites, the interior ministry said.