Saudi Arab Opens Umrah for Vaccinated Muslims from Overseas

Web Desk — Giving good news to the Muslims worldwide, Saudi Arabia has announced to gradually receive Umrah applications from overseas for vaccinated pilgrims starting on August 9.

According to the state news agency SPA, initially, 60,000 pilgrims will be allowed to perform Umrah. The number of Umrah pilgrims will rise monthly and the capacity will be taken to 2 million pilgrims.

An official in the Hajj and Umrah Ministry said domestic and overseas pilgrims will have to produce authorized Covid-19 vaccination certificates along with their Umrah applications.

According to the Saudi Government, foreign pilgrims must be immunized with a Saudi-recognized vaccine – Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna, or Jhonson & Jhonson and agree to go under quarantine if necessary.

The Saudi government has categorically clarified that Chinese vaccine Sinopharm or Sinovac have yet not been approved for the pilgrims.

Ban on Umrah has imposed about 18 months ago due to the Covid-19 pandemic.