Saudi Arabia Announces Resumption of International Umrah, Including South Africa with Conditions

Faizel Patel – 25/07/2021

Following a successful Hajj, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced that the resumption for Umrah for international pilgrims will begin on 1 Muharram of the Islamic calendar 1443 which corresponds to around 9 August.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reports pilgrims will be received in accordance with the necessary precautionary measures that will ensure the safety of visitors of the Haram in Makkah.

According to Haramain Sharifain, all countries will be allowed to send direct flights to Saudi Arabia for umrah except for nine countries which require a fourteen-day quarantine in a third country before arriving in the Kingdom.

These countries include, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Lebanon.

Pilgrim must also be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with complete doses of either Pfizer, Mordena, AstraZeneca or Johnson and Johnson while complete doses of Chinese vaccines must be accompanied by booster shots from other vaccines.

Only Pilgrims who are 18-years or older will be allowed to perform Umrah.

Pilgrims will also be required to travel for Umrah with an accredited Umrah travel agency by Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah Ministry.

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

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