Dear Indonesian, Saudi Arabian Umrah Congregants Still Require Meningitis Vaccine Requirements

Illustration. Congregations of prospective hajj pilgrims from Indonesia perform worship at the departure of 2022. (ANTARA-Iggoy F Fitra)

JAKARTA - The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia still requires meningitis vaccination for Umrah pilgrims from Indonesia who will go to the Holy Land.

"Getting a meningitis vaccination is mandatory for pilgrims coming from Indonesia," said an official statement from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia, as quoted from Antara, Monday, October 31.

The statement clarifies the information conveyed by Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Fawzan Muhammed Alrabiah during a meeting with the Indonesian Minister of Religion last week in Jakarta.

Previously, it was mentioned that Saudi Arabia revoked health requirements for Indonesian Umrah pilgrims such as meningitis vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine.

However, the latest statement from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia stated that only the COVID-19 vaccine was no longer needed for pilgrims going to the Holy Land. While meningitis vaccination is still mandatory for Umrah pilgrims from Indonesia.

"The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ensured that pilgrims from the Republic of Indonesia must receive the meningitis vaccine before coming to Saudi Arabia," the statement read.

During his visit to Indonesia, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Alrabiah explained that there were a number of facilities provided to Indonesian Umrah pilgrims.

First, Saudi has abolished the mahram requirement for female pilgrims. Second, the validity period of the Umrah visa was extended to 90 days from the previous 30 days.

Third, the Umrah visa can be used to visit all parts of Saudi Arabia, not only to Mecca and Medina. In addition, Saudi Arabia does not apply age restrictions for Indonesian Umrah pilgrims.

The government of Saudi Arabia has also officially presented the Nusuk integrated Umrah service platform which is considered to make it easier for Umrah pilgrims to travel to Mecca, Medina, and other regions in Saudi.

Nusuk is part of the Pilgrim Experience Program, an initiative of Vision 2030 launched by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia.

This platform gives Muslims the option to plan, book and undergo the Umrah experience.

Nusuk facilitates the arrival of pilgrims to perform Umrah independently starting and accessing various services including visa facilities, permits, booking processes and procedures along with special packages for Mecca, Medina and a number of other historical religious sites in Saudi Arabia.