Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Saudi Arabian Government bans foreigners from annual Hajj pilgrimage

Saudi Arabian Government bans foreigners from annual Hajj pilgrimage
June 13, 2021

The ongoing impact of the Coronavirus pandemic has seen the Saudi Arabian Government announce that this year's Hajj pilgrimage will be limited to no more than 60,000 people, all of them from within the Kingdom.

Having last year allowed only a small number of the faithful to take part in the annual event in the holy city of Mecca, a statement on the state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted the kKingdom's Hajj and Umrah Ministry making the announcement.

It said this year's Hajj, which will begin in mid-July, will be limited to vaccinated people aged between 18 to 65 years.

The statement advised “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is honoured to host pilgrims every year, confirms that this arrangement comes out of its constant concern for the health, safety and security of pilgrims as well as the safety of their countries.”

With 2 million pilgrims taking travelling to Mecca to participate in the Hajj in typical year, last year around 1,000 people already residing in Saudi Arabia were selected to take part in the pilgrimage.

Two-thirds were foreign residents from among the 160 different nationalities that would have normally been represented at the Hajj. One-third were Saudi security personnel and medical staff.

The Hajj, required of all able-bodied Muslims to perform once in their lifetime, is seen as a chance to redeem past sins and bring about greater humility and unity among Muslims.

Disease outbreaks have always been a concern surrounding the Hajj. Pilgrims fought off a malaria outbreak in 632, cholera in 1821 killed an estimated 20,000, and another cholera outbreak in 1865 killed 15,000 before spreading worldwide.

The Kingdom increased its public health measures during the hajj in 2012 and 2013, urging the sick and the elderly not to take part.

In recent years, Saudi officials also instituted bans on pilgrims coming from countries affected by the Ebola virus.

Saudi Arabia had closed its borders for months to try and stop the spread of the coronavirus. Since the start of the pandemic, the Kingdom has reported over 462,000 cases of the virus with 7,500 deaths.
With AAP.

Image: Mecca's Great Mosque.

Related Articles

8th June 2021 - WTTC campaign launched as global call for governments to restart international travel

2nd June 2021 - Theme park tickets and airline rewards offered as incentives for vaccination uptake

31st May 2021 - Saudi Arabia secures World Combat Games 2023

28th March 2021 - PATA releases growth scenarios forecast for Asia Pacific destinations

19th March 2021 - New Saudi Arabian Grand Prix revealed as F1’s ‘fastest street track’

16th March 2021 - Organisers limit ticket sales for Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix limited to vaccinated and COVID-19 recovered fans

15th March 2021 - Qatar offers COVID-19 vaccinations to the MotoGP paddock

25th February 2021 - New company launched to develop mountain tourism in Saudi Arabia’s Asir region

6th February 2021 - WTTC says governments should abandon notion of ‘high-risk countries’ and instead focus on ‘high-risk travellers’

1st February 2021 - Formula E confirms Saudi Arabian start with Asian legs postponed in part schedule for 2021 race series

20th January 2021 - WTTC predicts over 100 million global tourism jobs could be recovered during 2021

16th December 2020 - Olympic Council of Asia awards Asian Games hosting to Doha in 2030 and Riyadh in 2034

30th September 2020 - Women-only waterpark opened in Saudi Arabia

28th April 2020 - PATA anticipates 32% fall in Asia Pacific visitor numbers through 2020 but predicts resurgence in 2021

25th February 2020 - Saudi Arabia commences construction on NEOM

3rd January 2020 - New research shows increasing tourist interest in visiting Saudi Arabia

27th September 2019 - Saudi Arabia looks to open up to non-Muslim international tourists

25th October 2016 - Hajj pilgrimage to boost Saudi Arabian tourism to over 20 million visitors by 2020

29th July 2015 - Malaysia named top global tourism destination for Muslims

28th February 2013 - Saudi Arabia earns $16.5 billion from religious tourism

20th August 2012 - Asia prepares for Muslim travel boom