The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia recently stated that the country is getting ready to welcome one million pilgrims for Hajj 2022, including 150,000 pilgrims from inside Saudi Arabia. The ministry conducted a nine-day registration process for Muslims living in Saudi Arabia who wish to perform this year’s annual Hajj pilgrimage. During these nine days, the ministry received over 390,000 requests from resident Muslims to perform Hajj in 2022. Commencing at the beginning of June, the registration process of Hajj 2022 for domestic pilgrims ended at midnight on Saturday, i.e., June 11, 2022.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the successful nominees for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage late on Sunday. The ministry made the selection of candidates through an electronic draw, with priority given to those who have been fully vaccinated and haven’t performed Hajj before. Once the registration was carried out via the Eatmarna app, the applicants were sorted, and an e-draw was conducted to choose the nominees who meet the Hajj conditions. The would-be pilgrims were informed of their selection via text messages and were given 48 hours to pay for their desired Hajj packages, after which Hajj permits were issued to them. There is no provision for the domestic pilgrims who have registered for this year’s Hajj to check the status of their application or e-draw status.

Hajj 2022 packages

For the Hajj season this year, the ministry has slashed prices for the three hospitality packages. Now, the ‘Al-Abraj’ package costs SR 13,943.75 per pilgrim, the ‘Undeveloped Tents’ package costs SR 9,098.80 per pilgrim, and the ‘Developed Tents’ package costs SR 11,970.35. These prices do not include value-added tax and air or land transportation from and to Makkah. Based on their package, domestic pilgrims will stay in Mina’s residential towers in sophisticated tents akin to hotel rooms or normal tents with full facilities.

Hajj 2022 eligibility

After restricting the holy annual pilgrimage to thousands of Muslims living both inside and outside the country for two consecutive years due to the pandemic, Saudi Arabia has finally relaxed the COVID-19 restrictions. According to the acting head of the Coordination Council for Domestic Pilgrims, Saed Al Juhani, the ministry will also reintroduce the open buffet service after a suspension of two years due to the pandemic-related restrictions. As per the conditions stipulated by the ministry, eligible pilgrims must be under 65 years of age, fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and successfully able to provide a negative PCR test result.

Earlier, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed that pilgrims from Australia, North America, and Europe could also register for Hajj 2022 electronically. Thousands of pilgrims belonging to these regions were able to successfully register for the pilgrimage by submitting the required information and documents, including COVID-19 vaccination certificates and passports. Those who registered were also entered into the e-lottery process for the respective packages. If successful, they should complete the online payment process, following which the requests are sent to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue visas in consultation with the information center.

The date for Hajj 2022 will most likely be during the first or second week of July. The final date will only be confirmed after the new moon of Dhul Hijjah is sighted. Accordingly, the Hajj flight schedule for local pilgrims will be announced in due course.

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The Ministry announced that domestic pilgrims preparing to take part in the Hajj pilgrimage 2022 are allowed to register themselves and book their choice of Hajj packages from the available options. Priority would be given to pilgrims who have not appeared for Hajj before and are fully vaccinated.

Earlier authorized and unauthorized agents both were booking domestic and foreign pilgrims’ for their accommodation, transport, and other such services. They were largely unorganized and worked without much surveillance. But this year onwards, the country has made booking all such services easier and more transparent. These agents and companies are now catering to the pilgrims through the Hajj authorities’ official website and app. Only trusted companies are available to provide their services.

Domestic pilgrims now need to visit the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s official website or get the Eatmarna app to choose their package and complete their registration. These packages will include the companies that are providing their services. All applications will be recorded, and arrangements will be made accordingly.

Hajj 2022 packages and bookings

Domestic pilgrims will be allowed to stay in Mina’s residential towers, in normal tents with full facilities or sophisticated tents akin to hotel rooms, a new kind of lodging being provided for the first time. Food will be provided in buffets, as opposed to the previous two years, when pilgrims used to get individual meals in compliance with pandemic guidelines and restrictions.

The pilgrimage is available to anybody under age 65 who has been immunized against COVID-19 using vaccinations recognized by the Kingdom. However, access to the holy city of Makkah has been restricted as the city prepares to conduct the pilgrimage that is about to take place from July 7 to July 12. In 2019, the year before the pandemic, around 2 million pilgrims from all around the globe participated in Hajj. Saudi officials authorized just a thousand domestic pilgrims to participate in 2020 but increased the limit to 60,000 in 2021 as the people in the Kingdom were getting vaccinated.

Earlier, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that the country is planning to expand its hosting capacity for the Hajj pilgrimage from this year onwards. The authorities highlighted that this year as many as 1 million foreign pilgrims would be performing Hajj as the COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed. While talking about domestic pilgrims, it was observed that as many as 1,50,000 have registered for Hajj in 2022. To be able to enter Saudi Arabia, foreign pilgrims will have to submit a negative COVID PCR test conducted within 72 hours before they enter Saudi territory.

Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is the biggest and the most important event for a Muslim. It is the once-in-a-lifetime duty of a Muslim to visit the place if the person can afford it. The last two years were a nightmare for foreign and domestic people planning to appear for the pilgrimage. The seats were highly restricted, with limited services. With Vision 2030 in mind, the country plans to conduct a full-scale Hajj with maximum safety and security from this year onwards.

Suggested Read: Hajj – The Primary Muslim Pilgrimage To Mecca: Rules, Rituals And More

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Saudi Arabia has relaxed the indoor mask mandate, despite COVID-19 cases slowly rising beyond 1,000 new cases per day after hitting double-digit lows only two months earlier. The country made the decision as it prepared to welcome more than 800,000 foreign pilgrims for the Hajj 2022 pilgrimage.

Guidelines for Hajj 2022

The first group of foreign pilgrims arrived from Indonesia. It is the first batch of pilgrims since the pandemic hit the world in 2019 and limited the Hajj pilgrimage to only domestic pilgrims in 2020 and 2021. These pilgrims have arrived in Madinah and will be traveling to reach Makkah. The flights from India and Malaysia are also expected to come soon. The Hajj pilgrimage consists of several rites that are performed in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Saudi Arabia takes absolute pride in being the custodian of the pilgrimage and welcoming the guests of the Almighty.

According to the new guidelines, masks will still be necessary for Islam’s most sacred cities of Makkah and Madinah, where pilgrims assemble to pray and worship the Almighty. Events and festival organizers can mandate masks if they choose to. Apart from the requirement of negative PCR tests taken within 72 hours for visas, the pilgrims are required to have proof of vaccination on a mobile application. The vaccination certificate will be required for entry at different places, boarding transportation systems, and attending events. However, in recent times, the use of the mobile app to show vaccination certificates and wearing masks has become a scanty provision. In light of these changes, relaxing COVID-19 protocols for Hajj 2022 will make processes swift and smooth.

Impact of COVID-19 on Hajj

The COVID-19 outbreak affected Hajj and Umrah, which are generally the primary source of revenue for the country, bringing in over $12 billion annually. The Hajj is one of Islam’s five pillars, and all Muslims who have the financial means must do it at least once in their lifetimes. The last two years have been disappointing for foreign pilgrims. Saudi Arabia was one of the most proactive countries in the world in restricting its borders to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus for over two years.

As a result, only a thousand domestic pilgrims were allowed to perform Hajj in 2020, and over 60,000 domestic pilgrims in 2021. In 2019, previous to the pandemic, the figure for Hajj pilgrims was more than 2 million. The kingdom has decided to work on revamping the Hajj 2022 pilgrimage to its total capacity. It also decided to put a cap on the age of the pilgrims to 65 years. With its new guidelines, Saudi Arabia is all set to welcome around 800,000 foreign pilgrims for the first time since the pandemic.

In the past, Saudi nationals were barred from leaving the territory, and the country disallowed several nations from entering the kingdom. Evidence of vaccination was required to visit major public spaces, and the kingdom drastically reduced the capacity of the yearly Hajj pilgrimage. Since then, the country has relaxed its laws with the aim of attracting visitors under the new scheme of Vision 2030.

Suggested Read: Pillars Of Hajj And Umrah

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In a recent press meeting, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, highlighted that they have planned to expand the Hajj pilgrimage this year to accommodate over a million pilgrims as compared to a few thousand last year. The COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed, but caution against the virus is still a priority. That is why only vaccinated Muslims of a maximum of 65 years of age will be allowed to attend the pilgrimage. Additionally, these pilgrims will have to produce a negative COVID PCR test. All these decisions have been made keeping the COVID situation in mind.

In 2021, Hajj was only open to domestic pilgrims as international flights were restricted, and the threats of the pandemic were still looming large. Nevertheless, the country still managed to have over 60000 pilgrims last season while being a testimony to more than 2 million pilgrims in the pre-pandemic years.

Saudi Arabia is keen on conducting the Hajj and ensuring everything runs smoothly and easily. However, Hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and many people missed out on this golden opportunity last year due to the pandemic. The country is determined to alleviate its pilgrimage services so it can accommodate as many pilgrims in Hajj 2022 as possible without compromising their safety.

Hajj 2022 preparations

The country aims at expanding its pilgrimage capacity by making the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah more accessible and tourist-friendly. The country keeps all pilgrims’ safety and safe return on the list of high priorities. New Hajj technology will also be introduced this year to ease mobility from Makkah to Madinah and back to home destinations. Smart IDs will be given to pilgrims, which will allow them faster and easier access to transport around the two cities. Earlier private agencies helped in receiving and transporting foreign visitors to Makkah and Madinah. With the launch of the online Umrah Visa, those planning to perform Umrah can easily apply for their visas online and book accommodation, transport, and other services. The visas will be issued in less than 24 hours and will be valid for one to three months.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah also added that a foreign visitor traveling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah would be permitted to move freely between different cities in the Kingdom without any restrictions. And that the Ministry will continue to give all that is required to enrich the experience of the pilgrimage and increase its capacity. The e-service to facilitate the Umrah Visa is extremely easy and simple, and the services of trustworthy agencies and companies are also available on the website. Now the Ministry is working on another platform called ‘Nusk’ to enhance the visitors’ digital experience. It is one of the forthcoming initiatives the country is working on to enrich the holy experience and increase the level of service.

While the country gears up to host the world’s biggest pilgrimage, foreign pilgrims are also ready to prepare for the new guidelines that are soon to be announced in detail.

Suggested Read: Hajj – The Primary Muslim Pilgrimage To Mecca: Rules, Rituals And More

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The Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia’s holy city, Makkah. Muslims execute it on the 12th month of the Islamic Hijri calendar year, between the eighth and thirteenth days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah. While conducting Hajj is difficult (both spiritually and physically), it is essential to plan ahead of time. More than a million pilgrims are expected to attend Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2022. Pilgrims should be aware that the Hajj Committee across the globe will provide Haj pilgrims with standardized luggage. Further, if pilgrims have any luggage-related questions, they can contact their Provincial Haj Committee offices.

Luggage guidelines for Hajj 2022

• The Haj Committee of different nations will provide standardized luggage to pilgrims and deliver such bags to the address listed on the cover head of the Haj online application.
• As a result, pilgrims are requested to verify their luggage delivery location via the Haj Portal by May 14th, 2022.
• The pilgrim can update their status by logging into the Haj Organization app or website.
• Pilgrims should call their local State Haj Committee headquarters if they have any questions. Pilgrims are asked to label their luggage with their cover number, identity, location, flight number, and embarking port.
• A total of 40 kilos (in two pieces) of checked luggage will be allowed per pilgrim.
• It would be easy if the smaller bag had wheels so pilgrims could use it as a cart on their pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah.

List of crucial items to have in baggage for Hajj 2022

• Keep the passport in the baggage at all times. Before departing, one must provide it to the airport administration.
• The pieces of fabric worn by visitors during haj are referred to as Ihram. It is a symbol of Muslim togetherness.
• Visitors may carry a pocket-sized Quran and a dua book in the baggage. They may recite the Quran or dua while on the plane or anywhere.
• Always bring an umbrella during Hajj to protect oneself from the searing sun.
• Don’t forget to bring a prayer mat. Make sure it’s not too heavy.
• Female pilgrims are required to wear at least two hijabs. They should also have a clothespin, rubber band, and hair clips.
• Don’t forget to bring a smartphone charger. Double-check the luggage to see if everything is kept.
• A pair of goggles is usually not essential, but it is always a good idea to have on hand. It protects the eyes from the sun’s rays.

Inside the flight, one should have the following items

• Waist pouch: The waist pouch is where one may keep their passport, ticket, and money.
• Cotton: Always have cotton on hand. Due to a pressure imbalance on the plane, visitors may get an earache.
• Lock: To avoid theft, keep the bags locked at all times. Make sure pilgrims have a pain reliever, dysentery control pills, additional surgical masks, and hand sanitizer.
• Pen and diary: To note down essential details about the journey.

Before and after Hajj, pilgrims should organize their schedules. In addition, they should ensure that they abide by the guidelines of travel and baggage set by the Hajj committees of other nations and have kept all essential items before setting off for their spiritual journey.

Suggested Read: Hajj – The Primary Muslim Pilgrimage To Mecca: Rules, Rituals And More

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In the early 1950s, the number of pilgrims abroad rarely topped 100,000, and Saudi institutions were still in the early stages of development. Nonetheless, by the early 2000s, the overall number of Hajj pilgrims had surpassed 2 million, recently peaking at well over 3 million. Increasing number of pilgrims have put enormous strain on Makkah’s infrastructure and authorities. Hundreds of people have died in periodic tragedies such as fires and stampedes, the most recent of which occurred in 2015. Since then, the Saudi authorities have spent a significant amount of money in an ongoing effort to improve Hajj facilities and management.

Transformation Towards Innovation

Transformation Towards Innovation is an initiative to assist entrepreneurs in improving the pilgrim experience.

Three sessions, including notable speakers, specialists, and academics from the Hajj and Umrah sectors and the presence of 30 ministers from throughout the Islamic world, is to be held on the first day of the conference.

The 3 sessions will focus on

• Transformation Toward Innovation And Technology,
• Improving and designing new Digital Experience for Pilgrims,
• Pioneering Actions and Innovation In Hajj Services.

Ibrahim A. Al-Omar (Director-general of Saudia Airlines) Col. General Suliman Al-Yahya (General Director of Passports), Abdulrahman Addas, (the CEO of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites), and Al-Rabiah are among the speakers in the first session.

On the margins of the conference, an exhibition will showcase programs, products, and initiatives from individuals working in the Hajj and Umrah sectors.

On the initial day of the conference, two workshops will also be held

• The Art Of Engaging With Pilgrims
• Design Thinking In The Sphere Of Hajj And Umrah.

Further, the International Conference will be held in 2 stages

1st Stage: It will be a three-day Hajj Creative Hackathon to provide practical, creative solutions to Hajj services. The winners will get a prize of SAR 150,000.

2nd Stage: The Kingdom’s entrepreneurs are the focus of the second stage. They’ll participate in The Open Innovation Platform, sharing recommendations and concepts. Several events and workshops to attract more entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial efforts into the Hajj and Umrah sector will likely to be held during this stage. The ministry and the Small and Medium Enterprises Normal Authority (Monsha’at) will foster and support these small businesses.

Conference’s final goal

Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah, stated that the number of pilgrims allowed to perform Hajj this year would be chosen based on the results of ongoing studies. He stated that the studies are being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health to assure the pilgrims’ and Hajj’s safety.

Through the Hajj Talk platform, the conference will discuss the most exemplary innovative and successful ideas. The discussion will take place on issues compatible with the future of the two Holy Mosques, such as smart cities and constructing special development zones.

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The sacred rituals of Hajj and Umrah are performed by citizens, residents, and visitors in the holy city of Makkah. Millions of Muslims go to Makkah each year for the Hajj, a five-day pilgrimage in which Muslims from all over the world follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The Objective of Hajjathon 2022

Saudi Arabia has made significant attempts and advancements to accommodate pilgrims’ demands and is in the process of constant improvement. Serving pilgrims, facilitating their execution of rites, and improving the efficiency of services offered to them are all priorities for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As a result, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research launched the Hajjathon in 2022. It is an initiative to develop technical and creative solutions, improve the quality of services, enrich pilgrims’ experiences, and stimulate the Hajj and Umrah’s infrastructure.

Umm Al-Qura University had arranged a workshop in collaboration with the College of Computer and Information Systems, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research. It intended to examine projects that support efforts to improve the services provided to pilgrims and visitors. Additionally, it examined the scope of digital solutions for the issues of the Hajj and Umrah systems.

Digital transformation in the Hajj, Umrah

The 3-day workshop was held at the King Salman International Convention Centre and was themed ‘Digital Transformation in the Hajj, Umrah, and Visit System’. The workshop included pupils from the College of Engineering and Islamic Architecture, the College of Medicine, the College of Applied Medical Sciences, and the College of Public Health and Health Informatics. Besides, the inauguration of the 3-day workshop was attended by academic researchers interested in Hajj-Umrah visit studies, experts in digital transformation, representatives from the public and private sectors, financial and educational institutions, and youth leaders.

Hajjathon 2022 held with the 21st Scientific Forum for Hajj was a technical competition, and the registration for the first edition started in the last week of February ’22. Hajjathon 2022 brought together software and business developers and entrepreneurs from around the world to develop top-notch technical solutions to improve Hajj and Umrah services. It was a global opportunity for young people to demonstrate their ability to create innovative ways to expand pilgrim services. It also tapped into local and international data and artificial intelligence skills.

“The workshop aims at developing research ideas and initiatives that suit the themes of the 21st Scientific Forum for Research on Hajj, Umrah and Visits, which will be held this year under the title: “Digital Transformation in the Hajj, Umrah and Visit System.”– Dr. Turki Al-Amr, the head of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj, Umrah and Visitation Research.

With the new challenges imposed by COVID-19, apps like Tawakkalna have greatly enhanced the experience of Umrah and Hajj. To promote more such apps the government organised Hajjathon in Feb 2022. Numerous renowned entrepreneurs and business owners took part in the convention along with research leaders.

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Key ideas discussed to revive Umrah, Hajj

An investor, Ahmed Bajaiffer said, with the expansion of cooperation, supervisory tasks can be allocated to various airport reception firms, offence monitoring firms, surveillance firms and more, which were previously appointed to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MoHU). Another idea proposed was to make a sovereign fund for Umrah and Hajj Development that the state will monitor.

“The fund will support the private sector’s initiatives in exchange for investment partnerships that manage all the sector’s details,” said Bajaiffer. Further, a central system and various subsidiaries owned publicly and privately will help conduct Umrah services uninterrupted during the pandemic and expansion of Masjid Al-Haram.

“There is more leeway now for ideas and innovation to provide better services, based on a completely nationalized sector,” he added. Further, he said, “the stronger the industries in the Hajj and Umrah system are, the more positive the outcome.”

In the meeting, the authorities and investors reached a consensus that they will have to identify the areas responsible for the breach of confidence to enhance the services. After identifying the worst-affected area, it will be easy to restore the confidence in services offered and revive Umrah and Hajj.

Insights shared by Moshin Tuttla, the Head of World Hajj and Umrah Convention

Moshin Tuttla, the head of World Hajj and Umrah Convention, said, “Before COVID-19, we were witnessing a perpetual compound 10 percent annual growth in pilgrim numbers; with recorded figures estimated around 18 million Umrah pilgrimages in 2019, successfully growing in line with the Vision 2030 outlined forecasted figures. The decimation of pilgrimage numbers imposed by COVID-19 and its variants has crippled the underpinning ecosystem that has been supporting the smooth operation of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.”

“Nothing could be further from the truth; the objective is to ensure that the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem is self-sustainable with a reduced dependency on financial subsidy provided by declining oil revenues. It is about creating a model where the experience expectation of the pilgrimage remains in line with the pilgrim expectation and supported by its own performance as a sector,” he added.

Some of the factors barring the expected growth are chain debts, confidence breaches in the ecosystem of Hajj and Umrah, loss of talents from different countries, and uncertain times during the pandemic. “Having identified core challenges restricting a bounce back by the private sector, we can begin to devise practical strategies to help rejuvenate the Hajj and Umrah sectors,” added Moshin.

“As an ecosystem, we need to identify where all the breaches of confidence remain and how to restore confidence, attract new investors into operating core services or provide bailout packages so the worst-affected sectors can restart,” said Tuttla. Moreover, he addressed the need to train and introduce new staff for quality and safe Umrah and Hajj experience.

To increase the entry of more pilgrims, unification of the private and public sector will help develop a successful self-sustaining ecosystem adhering to Vision 2030 and also revive Umrah and Hajj.

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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has decided to rely on artificial intelligence (AI) and information technology (IT) to safeguard the pilgrims going on Hajj during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Saudi ministry will use robots, interactive screens, and quality tech solutions for this purpose. It will aid in limiting contact between individuals during the rituals.

Right from the very start, people can use online portals for receiving and accepting Hajj applications. Digitalization will help pilgrims register themselves without any hassle. It will also reduce the contact points of pilgrims before visiting the city of Makkah for pilgrimage. The Islamic electronic library will also install 30 interactive screens for offering needful assistance.

People going on Hajj in 2021 will receive smart cards. They will record personal and health-related information on pilgrims and grant access to hotels, camps, and transport services. The smart cards will also facilitate payment allowing the ministry to keep an eye on the crowded locations in Makkah.

Morocco World News reported that this year the ministry would allow 60,000 pilgrims to go on Hajj. As part of the stringent measures, the location of each pilgrim will be closely monitored with the help of AI robots. They will aid in regularly sterilizing and disinfecting the buildings and surrounding areas of holiest Muslim sites. Deployment of robots with interactive abilities to offer help and guidance to pilgrims will also take place. They will also respond to people’s queries regarding the rituals.

As part of the precautionary measures, the ministry of Saudi Arabia has decided to give pilgrims free access to Wi-Fi. They have also set up a tech-reinforced security gate at Makkah’s Shimisi entrance. It will vet and inspect pilgrims from over 16 different tracks. The entrance gate will significantly reduce the waiting time for visitors even during busy hours. As such, the pilgrims will be able to complete their journey in a seamless and smooth manner.

The AI robots deployed at the well will hand out the holy Zamzam water to avoid physical contact between individuals. The authorities have also decided to put on 62 screens in Makkah to make people aware of the dos and don’ts during the pilgrimage. Broadcasting of messages in different languages on these displays to promote easy understanding will take place.

Besides, a host of applications and programs are set up by the relevant authorities to ensure a safe and hassle-free Hajj and Umrah trip to Makkah. Asharq Al-Awsat has reported that the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Abdullatif Al Al-Sheikh inaugurated operational and maintenance projects with the total cost amounting to more than SAR 31 million. These projects intend to establish coordination between several agencies to provide the highest standards of service.

The pilgrimage of Hajj is an important Islamic tradition that every abled Muslim has to make at least once in his/her lifetime. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, this tradition was brought to a halt. However, with the Covid-19 cases going down, Saudi Arabia has decided to allow some vaccinated pilgrims to undergo the journey. The well-intended AI and tech solutions for safe Hajj are an effort on the part of Saudi Arabia to safeguard the people arriving for the pilgrimage.

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Pilgrims visit Makkah to perform the pilgrimage any time during the year, which is called ‘Umrah.’ Whereas ‘Hajj’ takes place on fixed dates according to the Islamic calendar once a year. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Umrah pilgrimage was performed by almost 19 million pilgrims annually. For ‘Hajj’, around 2.5 million Muslims used to visit Makkah. But, in 2021, only 60,000 vaccinated Saudi citizens were permitted to perform the Hajj due to the adverse effect of the pandemic. According to the sources, only 1000 people performed the holy Hajj. The pilgrimage was opened only for the residents of Saudi Arabia.

Considering the gravity of the COVID-19 outbreak, both the ‘Umrah’ and ‘Hajj’ seemed impossible, however, Saudi Arabia handled the pandemic as well as pilgrimage amidst the pandemic quite efficiently. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had less mortality rates as compared to many other nations and also managed minimal social disruption. Meticulous management by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah made it possible for Muslims to undertake the pilgrimage and took maximum precaution to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

COVID-19 Impact on Umrah : How the pandemic affected the pilgrimage in Makkah?

Hajj is believed as a way to wash your sins and get the mercy of Almighty Allah. It is also believed to unite the Muslims community. During Hajj and Umrah, Muslims are supposed to recite and perform prayers together, sit and eat together, and celebrate it with unity. Instead, the pandemic led to social distancing, which could not make it possible for people to come together for the pilgrimage. The pandemic led to the bifurcation of people into queues to avoid the overcrowding that existed before the pandemic. The number of people allowed at one time in the mosque was reduced to a very few ensuring that the social distancing is being followed. Additionally, face masks became mandatory for the visitors, and the people not wearing them had to bear the penalties. Police officers were on duty to note this and ensure that the guidelines were being followed.

The iftar meal (served when breaking the daylong fast) was also served in nicely sealed packages unlike previous years when pilgrims sat in lines to enjoy iftar together. The food was prepared with extreme hygiene and wellness. Moreover, the Zamzam water, considered holy water, was earlier collected from various watering points and made available in water bottles, while following social distancing and the government norms.

Suggested Read: The Grand Mosque To Drop Social Distancing For Pilgrims

Primarily, the authorities used to ask the foreign pilgrims for a negative RT-PCR test report which should be taken within 48 hours before arriving in Saudi Arabia. In addition, they are also supposed to be quarantined at a government-approved hotel for 6 days or can again take a RT-PCR test after 2 days of quarantine, and if the report is negative, they can leave the hotel.

The pilgrims who want to get entry in Haram, the Grand Mosque of Makkah, have to bring their vaccination certificates and show them in advance.

A university lecturer in Saudi Arabia, Egyptian pilgrim Aly Aboulnaga said, “I hope this is a successful hajj season. We ask God to accept everyone’s hajj and for the area to be open to greater numbers of pilgrims and for a return to an even better situation than before.”

With the advent of technology, mobile apps are also helping in tracking the updates of COVID-19 personal stats. Many apps can be used to keep your vaccination certificate, to track and warn if anyone affected with coronavirus is near you. If you want to gather for a social event, an app will give you the permit for the gathering. The app will also trace the positive people if present at the party.

There is another mobile app specially designed for people who want to enter Haram, named Eatmarna. The app helps pilgrims to book a time slot for granting access to the Grand Mosque. It was created by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to ensure public safety and to avoid overcrowding.

Though it still can’t be predicted when the pandemic will end, the COVID-19 impact on Umrah and Hajj will be completely relaxed in the coming months, and Makkah will start hosting pilgrims from different areas of the globe. As per the reports, the new variants of COVID-19 are also approaching. Hence, following the guidelines and restrictions are important and mandatory for the betterment of the visitors.

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