Saudi Arabia raises daily capacity of Umrah pilgrims to 70,000

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj and Umrah has increased the number of Umrah pilgrims to 70,000 per day from yesterday, state media said.

With this, the overall number of pilgrims has increased to 2.1 million per month, according to a statement issued by state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The ministry said that Umrah permits will be issued through the Etamarna and Tawakkalna apps, and only vaccinated people can apply.

The kingdom resumed receiving foreign vaccinated Umrah pilgrims on August 9 following the Haj season.

All domestic Umrah pilgrims must be vaccinated, said Saudi’s Deputy Minister of Haj and Umrah, Dr Abdul Fattah Sulaiman Mashat. Proof will be displayed on the Tawakkalna app. They must have either received both doses, completed 14 days after the first dose, or have recently recovered from the infection.

Umrah pilgrims from abroad must obtain a vaccination certificate issued in their respective countries, which must be attached to their application. They must be vaccinated with a vaccine approved in Saudi Arabia.

Pilgrims coming from countries on the Red List must institutionally quarantine upon arrival.