Pilgrims return to Mecca as ban is partially lifted

Mecca stirred from a seven-month hibernation yesterday as pilgrims trickled in after Saudi authorities partially lifted a coronavirus ban on performing Umrah – a pilgrimage to Islam’s two holiest sites that is undertaken at any time of year.

Millions of Muslims from around the world usually descend on Saudi Arabia for the Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages.

Saudi Arabia is allowing citizens to perform Umrah at 30 per cent capacity or 6,000 pilgrims a day. It will open for Muslims from abroad on Nov 1.