Saudi Arabia May Not Allow Foreigners To Go On The Pilgrimage This Year

Illustration of the Grand Mosque in Mecca. (Wikimedia Commons / Prof. Mortel)

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabia is considering banning foreign pilgrims from performing the Haj pilgrimage for the second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thus, this year the pilgrimage will only be allowed for citizens of Saudi Arabia and residents of the kingdom who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Or have been declared cured of COVID-19 several months earlier.

"While discussions about a possible ban have taken place, there is no final decision yet on whether to proceed," said a source with knowledge of the matter, as reported by Reuters on Wednesday, May 5.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that imposed global social distancing, around 2.5 million worshipers used to visit Islam's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina for the week-long haj. And smaller year-round Umrah pilgrimages, which in total generate about US $ 12 billion in revenue to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia per year, according to official data.

As part of an economic reform plan undertaken by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom hopes to increase the number of Umrah and Haj pilgrims to 15 million and 5 million respectively by 2020.

Sert aims to double the number of Umrahs again to 30 million by 2030.It aims to get 50 billion riyals (US $ 13.32 billion) from the pilgrimage by 2030.

Two sources with knowledge of the matter said the authorities had suspended previous plans to accommodate pilgrims from abroad. And will only allow domestic pilgrims who have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 at least six months before the Hajj.

"The restrictions will also be applied to the age of the pilgrims this year," said one source.

Meanwhile, a second source said that the original plan for pilgrims from abroad who had been vaccinated would be allowed to worship. However, confusion about the type of vaccine, its efficacy and the emergence of a new variant, led officials to reconsider this plan. The state media office did not respond to requests for comment.

To note, the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the service of the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina, last year banned foreigners from performing the pilgrimage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ban for the first time in the modern history of the kingdom.

In February, the government suspended entry to the kingdom from 20 countries, except for diplomats, citizens of Saudi Arabia, medical practitioners and their families, to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The current restrictions include the United Arab Emirates, Germany, the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, France, Egypt, Lebanon, India and Pakistan.