This year's Hajj, which will accommodate 1 million pilgrims, lists this vaccination requirement on its online registration page.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that full immunization with one of the COVID19-vaccines that has been approved the Public Health Authority is still mandatory for individuals who intend to perform Hajj this year.

The announcement comes less than 24 hours after the Saudi authorities lifted several COVID-19 preventative measures, including the requirement to wear face masks in closed areas.

All those planning to perform Hajj this year must have completed their immunization regimen with one of the COVID-19 vaccines recognized by the Public Health Authority, the ministry underlined.

This year's Hajj, which will accommodate 1 million pilgrims, lists this vaccination requirement on its online registration page.

Meanwhile, with the recent decision to lift the COVID-19 precautionary and preventive measures, the authority declared that people will no longer be required to wear a face mask indoors, except for Makkah's Grand Mosque and Madinah's Prophet's Mosque, in addition to health facilities, significant public gatherings, airplanes, and public transportation providers that wish to maintain the measures.

To enter establishments, events, activities, flights, and public transportation, people no longer need to show proof of immunization via the Tawakkalna app.

Administrators of any activity, event, or operator of a public transportation system may, however, choose to use higher levels of protection and can be exempted from the decision.

Addressing a press conference on June 1 in the Jordanian capital Amman, Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah stated, “It is known that there are many requirements to perform Hajj for this year, but the safety of pilgrims and their safe return to their countries remain our priorities.”

Earlier, the ministry had emphasized at the time of opening registration for this year’s Hajj that priority would be given to individuals who have not previously performed the rituals. The ministry added that people who are not fully immunized, as per their status on the Tawakkalna application, will not be granted a Hajj permit.