The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has appointed Dr Tawfiq Al Rabiah as Minister of Hajj and Umrah (lesser hajj) by after the successful management of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Kingdom, a source said.
Several reports have indicated that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah under the supervision of Dr Tawfiq is now working on plans to ensure a smooth transition to revive the Umrah and Hajj numbers to pre-Covid times keeping the health and safety of Pilgrims, and personnel involved the number one priority.
Hajj is an annual religious pilgrimage to Mecca and Umrah is a pilgrimage that can be completed at any time of the year. Before the advent of the global health crisis Hajj was attended by 1 to 2 million pilgrims annually.
In 2020 and 2021 Saudi Arabia suspended the annual Hajj pilgrimage and Umrah for international pilgrims due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since October 2021, Umrah was resumed for local pilgrims while foreign pilgrims were allowed to come since November 2020. However curbed by several restrictions and bounded by time limitations the demand fell significantly and this is one of the areas where the Ministry hopes to resolve, The Muslim Voice source added.
Haramain Sharifain to Return to Full Capacity From Sunday – Saudi Officials
On June 12 2021, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on June 12 that only 60,000 residents and citizens of Saudi Arabia will be permitted to perform Hajj. Recently, the capacity restrictions and social distancing among other precautionary measures were lifted from Masjid Al Haram and Masjid Al Nabawi; floor markings, guiding people to social distance in the holy city, were removed, allowing people to pray side-by-side.
Also, Restriction of performing one Umrah every 15 days has been removed while Praying in Rawdah Al Shareefah every 30 days has also been removed. Pilgrims can now obtain permits immediately after the expiration of their previous permits without a waiting period, the Ministry announced.
Meanwhile, daily COVID-19 cases dropped below hundred for several days and 70% of the population were at least partially vaccinated. The COVID-19 pandemic hugely disrupted both pilgrimages, usually key revenue earners for the kingdom, raking in a combined $12bn annually. According to a recent COVID-19 data, Saudi Arabia has reported more than 547,000 coronavirus cases and 8,760 deaths.
