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Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Saudi Arabia Announces This Year's Hajj Details


Tue 23 Jun 2020 | 12:42 PM
NaDa Mustafa

Hajj Minister Mohammad Benten announced on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia will allow around 1,000 pilgrims residing in the kingdom to perform the hajj this year, amid Coronavirus concerns.

"The number of pilgrims will be around 1,000, maybe less, maybe a little more," the minister said in a press conference, adding, "The number won't be in tens or hundreds of thousands this year."

Benten did not specify how the pilgrims will be selected.

Yet, he said the government will work with various diplomatic missions in the kingdom to select foreign pilgrims residing in Saudi Arabia who fit the health criteria.

On his part, Health Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah revealed that the pilgrimage, scheduled for the end of July, will be limited to those below 65 years of age and with no chronic illnesses.

Moreover, the pilgrims will be tested for coronavirus before arriving in the holy city of Mecca and will be required to quarantine at home after the ritual.

The decision marks the first time in Saudi Arabia's modern history that Muslims outside the kingdom have been barred from performing the hajj, which last year drew 2.5 million pilgrims.