Mashable: Pandemic-related curbs on pilgrimage has been lifted

Saudi Arabia is ready to receive about two million pilgrims during the Hajj season this year.

Recently, the kingdom lifted Covid-19-related restrictions on numbers of pilgrims for the first time in three years. Saudi Arabia also lifted restrictions on the age limit for pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah.

As per Khaleej Times, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah held a joint press conference which was held by with Algerian Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Dr. Youssef Belmahdi, Dr. Al-Rabiah.

They revealed that the Kingdom is preparing itself to host two million pilgrims including 41,300 Algerian pilgrims during the Hajj season for 1444 AH.

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia also confirmed that it would welcome pilgrims to perform Hajj this year with the same numbers as before the Corona Virus pandemic.

The Kingdom also removed the limits on the number of pilgrims for this year’s Hajj after three years of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

The year 2019 saw about 2.5 million people taking part in the rituals whereas, in 2022, nearly 900,000 pilgrims were welcomed to Makkah and Madinah.

According to the news outlet, Saudi Press Agency said that Al-Rabiah also touched on the use of development projects and infrastructure in the kingdom to provide quality services at the holy sites.

These holy sites are considered the largest in the world and are being developed at a cost of more than SR200 billion.

These include the development of the Haramain Express Train, which connects Makkah and Madinah in a mere two-hour journey.

This year’s pilgrimage which is one of the five pillars of Islam is scheduled for June 2023.