São Paulo – Saudi Arabia is accepting registration from non-national residents to do the Hajj, the Muslim religious pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy city of Islam. Saudi physicians and security workers who have recovered from Covid-19 will be selected to join, in recognition to the work of those professionals amid the pandemic.
Arab News quoted the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah as saying 70% of pilgrims this year should be expatriates in Saudi Arabia. Non-national residents can register at a government website starting this Monday (6).
The remaining 30% of pilgrims should be Saudi Arabian medical and security workers who have recovered from Covid-19, according to the Saudi Ministry. They will be picked out of a database of recovered patients, Arab News reported.
This year, as a result of the pandemic, non-nationals will not be allowed to take the Hajj, to prevent crowding and keep Covid-19 from spreading. The Hajj is slated to run from July 28 to August 2.
Performing the Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. All Muslims with the means and the health conditions are required to do it at least once in their lifetime. The Hajj usually brings millions of Muslims from around the world to Mecca. Only Muslims are allowed to participate. Last year saw 2.5 million flock to the city (pictured at the top of this page).
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
