Saudi Arabia Resumes Conditional Umra Permits

Saudi Arabia's General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque (Mecca) and the Prophet's Mosque (Medina) is preparing to receive 220 thousand pilgrims and 560 thousand worshipers tomorrow, Sunday.

The Saudi authorities have permitted the second phase of the Umrah (visit to the Holy Grand Mosque of Mecca and other correlated rites), which continues over a period of 14 days.

This step came amid an integrated system of services provided by the Government of the KSA  for those visiting the Two Holy Mosques.

According to Al-Riyadh, a Saudi daily newspaper, 40,000 worshipers and 15,000 pilgrims will be able to perform the prayer in the Grand Mosque in Mecca according to the second phase. This number represents 75% of the total capacity of the mosque.

Stringent and precautionary measures were taken into account to protect the visitors and worshipers of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, against the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The General Presidency instructed worshipers and pilgrims to adhere to the specified times of prayers according to the issued permits.

The visitors must wear medical masks and to sterilize hands continuously, and cooperate with employees of the presidency and agencies working to serve pilgrims and worshipers.

Food and drinks are also forbidden to enter the Grand Mosque.

In the same context, the General President for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, Dr. Abdul-Rahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais, pointed out that during the visiting season a plan was prepared by the Presidency for the Prophet's Mosque Affairs to receive visitors to the Holy Rawda ( a place nears the burial spot where Prophet Mohamed and two first early Caliphs were buried) in Medina.

The authorities announced that the entry of women to pray in the Rawda will be in the morning time until the noon prayer, and the operational capacity to enter is 900 worshipers per day.