In Addition To Vaccines, Saudi Arabia Requires Countries That Send Umrah Pilgrims No Longer COVID-19 Red Zone

JAKARTA - Consul for Hajj at the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah, Endang Jumali, said that his party is still coordinating with the Saudi Arabian government regarding the implementation of Umrah. He confirmed that until now there has been no new policy regarding Umrah pilgrims from Indonesia.

"Until today, there has been no new policy from Saudi Arabia regarding Indonesian Umrah pilgrims," said Endang virtually, Thursday, August 26.

He revealed that the latest Saudi policy was only to lift the direct flight ban from a number of countries that had previously been suspended. However, the revocation of the suspension only applies to foreigners, including Indonesia, who have a residence permit in Saudi Arabia.

"On August 24, the circular regarding civilian aircraft lifts the ban on direct flights or direct flights from suspended countries," he explained.

Although the suspension was lifted, Saudi Arabia also stipulates a number of conditions, such as having a complete vaccine (two doses) of a type of vaccine that is recognized by Saudi Arabia. The vaccine was obtained in Saudi before the foreign national returned to his country. Then when they arrive in Saudi, they must follow the health protocols set by the Saudis.

"But it is limited to those who first have Iqamah in Saudi Arabia, the second has been vaccinated after two doses of the vaccine that Saudi Arabia recognized before their return to their homeland. Third, the condition is that when he returns to Saudi Arabia he quarantines for 14 days," he said.

"So, there is no new policy regarding Indonesian Umrah pilgrims," continued Endang.

Meanwhile, for the sake of Umrah, continued Endang, the Saudi Arabian Aviation Authority or GACA on August 24, 2021 asked airlines to require every Umrah passenger to be certified with a complete vaccine (two doses) recognized by Saudi Arabia. The four vaccines are Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson.

In addition, Saudi Arabia also asks prospective pilgrims who have received the Sinovac vaccine to get an additional injection (booster) of the recommended vaccine.

"Yesterday I went to the director of the Ministry of Health (Saudi Arabia) to re-assure whether the news circulating (permissible for Umrah, ed) said it was true. But he said that for Umrah, during the pandemic, countries that are going for Umrah are no longer red zones according to the Arab Ministry of Health. Saudi," said Endang.