São Paulo – Saudi Arabia will receive visitors from other countries to perform Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, which will take place from July 7 to 12. The government of the country announced that it will accommodate 1 million local and international pilgrims. Last year, the registration was limited to 60,000 pilgrims, and in 2020 some 1,000 pilgrims, and only Saudi citizens and residents were allowed to participate in the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hajj and Umrah minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said the ministry is still working to ensure pilgrim health and safety and that the Vision 2030 project aimed to develop the services provided to pilgrims, improving and further facilitating their access to the holy mosques for a higher-quality experience. The safe return to the pilgrims’ countries remain a priority.
Al-Rabiah said they will keen on implementing Hajj technologies, including the pilgrims’ smart ID, to render the transport of the visitors easier and to ensure their fast arrival to holy places. Al-Rabiah said that the pilgrim app Eatmarna was among the services launched during the pandemic. It aimed to organize Umrah pilgrims and when they performed their rituals.
A person interested in traveling to Saudi Arabia can apply digitally and directly to get the necessary Umrah visa, accommodation, transport, and other services upon heading to Makkah. According to the ministry, the Umrah visa will be issued within less than 24 hours and its validity will be extended from one to three months without any restriction on visitors.
*With information from Saudi newspaper Arab News.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
