Local Umrah resumed on Sunday at the stroke of midnight when a group of 1000 pilgrims performed Tawaaf putting an end to the seven-month-long suspension of Umrah in centuries.
A total of 6 thousand pilgrims performed Umrah on the first day in groups of 12 which is the issued protocol for phase one with further restrictions loosening from October 18th.
Earlier the Ministry of Interior had announced that it was ready to receive International pilgrims from November 1st, in an interview with Al Ekbariya, The Minister of Hajj and Umrah said that “the countries which will be allowed to send their citizens for Umrah will be determined by the Ministry of Health after careful analysis of the pandemic situation and will issue some SOPs.”
The Ministry of Health is yet to announce the mechanism of screening of countries. At the peak of Phase three, 20,000 pilgrims and 60,000 worshipers will be allowed in Masjid Al Haram per day which will remain in effect until the pandemic is declared over and all restriction prior to February 27th will be lifted.
