SAUDI ARABIA: Umrah for foreign pilgrims to resume from August 10, as 2021 Hajj concludes without Coronavirus cases

*Holy mosque was reopened to domestic pilgrims on Sunday after Hajj

Saudi Arabia will allow international pilgrims to perform Umrah from August 10, state media said on Sunday 25 July 2-2021 as the kingdom reopened the Grand Mosque in Makkah to domestic Umrah pilgrims after the Hajj pilgrimage last week.

Authorities restricted access to the mosque to Hajj pilgrims earlier this month as part of precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the annual pilgrimage.

People wishing to perform the Umrah pilgrimage must first receive approval to do so and must follow safety guidelines. The pilgrims on Sunday abide by precautionary measures laid down by the General Presidency of the Haramain, the Two Holy Mosque of Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, the Saudi state news agency said.

Local pilgrims can use the Eatmarna app to book a time slot for Umrah or to offer prayers at the Holy Mosque.

“I went on Eatmarna to book an appointment but they’re booked out for the rest of the month. People booked it within seconds,” says Dina Zidaan, an Egyptian resident of Jeddah.

“I can’t wait to go to the Grand Mosque and offer salah and perform Umrah. As soon as flights reopen that’s the first thing I’m going to do,” said Mubeen Islam, a UAE resident.

More than 500 Umrah service companies and 6,000 foreign Umrah agents will help pilgrims around the world book packages via 30 different websites, said Hani Ali Al-Amiri, member of the National Committee for Hajj and Umrah.

Pilgrims will be able to select their packages online which will entail flight bookings and on-ground services including transportation services, hotel bookings and meals.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah have approved the list of companies that will provide B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) services globally.