Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh

Riyadh, Jun 12: Saudi Arabia announced that for this year's Haj pilgrimage, it will limit registration to citizens and residents in view of the ongoing pandemic.

The Haj ministry made the announcement on Saturday, June 12, that this year a total of 60,000 pilgrims will be allowed to perform the pilgrimage.

Those wishing to perform Haj must be free of any chronic diseases, and to be within the ages from 18 to 65 years for those vaccinated against the virus according to the kingdom’s vaccination measures, the ministry stressed.  

Additionally, Haj pilgrims should be fully vaccinated, or those who took one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before, or those who are vaccinated after recovering from coronavirus infection.

"The decision is based on the Kingdom’s constant keenness to enable the guests and visitors at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque to perform the rituals of Hajj and Umrah," the ministry said. “The Kingdom puts human health and safety first,” it added.