Overseas Haj pilgrims to get service upgrade

Deals signed with several countries at Haj Expo in Jeddah

Saudi Arabia this month said there will be no limits on the numbers of pilgrims from around the world for the upcoming Haj season.

Saudi Arabia and several countries have signed agreements on upgrading services provided for their pilgrims arriving in the kingdom for Haj, according to media reports.

The pacts were signed by the kingdom’s Deputy Minister of Haj and Umrah Abdul Fattah Mashat with delegations from these countries on the sides of a conference and exhibition, known as Haj Expo, which wrapped up last week in the Saudi port city of Jeddah.

The agreements were part of early preparations for this year’s annual pilgrimage season due in late June.

The pacts cover quotas for each country, entry points, as well as means of arrival and departure for their pilgrims, Alriyadh newspaper reported.

During the Haj Expo, Mashat had held talks with delegations from the UAE, Egypt, Senegal, Ghana, Chad, Tajikistan, India, Thailand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Kirghizstan, Benin, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.

Saudi Arabia this month said there will be no limits on the numbers of pilgrims from around the world for the upcoming Haj season, reversing earlier restrictions prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic in the past two years.

Vaccination mandatory

However, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah confirmed that Muslims wishing to perform this year’s Haj are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, Saudi news portal Sabq reported.

The ministry also said that vaccinations against meningitis and seasonal flu are also obligatory for every pilgrim. who must have no acute chronic or infectious diseases.