Umrah pilgrimage resumes in Saudi Arabia after 7-month pause

Oct 5, 2020

A limited number of citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia can now perform umrah at the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, seven months after the pilgrimage that draws millions to the kingdom each year was put on hold due to the coronavirus.

Some 6,000 people performed the ritual on Sunday while adhering to strict social distancing measures. The Interior Ministry announced last month that authorities would gradually increase the number of pilgrims allowed in Mecca’s Grand Mosque. By Nov. 1, Saudi officials plan to welcome up to 20,000 pilgrims and 60,000 for prayer daily from a list of countries considered safe for travel.

Visitors must observe health protocols, including wearing face masks and avoiding physical contact, and are required to reserve a time and date on an app developed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

In March, the kingdom suspended umrah pilgrimages, which attract some 19 million people to the holy cities annually, as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The bigger summer pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, known as the hajj, was limited to just a few thousand socially distanced citizens and residents this July.

Religious tourism revenues have plunged in recent months. Before the pandemic, the oil-dependent kingdom set a target of hosting 6 million people for the hajj and 30 million for umrah by 2030.