The Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah received on Sunday the first batch of Umrah pilgrims as Saudi Arabia eases restrictions imposed by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The pilgrims are the first to perform the Umrah since the outbreak in March. They will carry out the pilgrimage amid strict health regulations.
Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Abdulfattah bin Sulaiman Mashat had earlier this week detailed to Asharq Al-Awsat the Kingdom’s plans to resume the Umrah.
The plan will be implemented in phases, while adhering to health protocols to protect the pilgrims.
The first batch of pilgrims has been limited to residents and citizens. Each day of the Umrah will be divided into six stages. Each stage will demand 30 percent of the operation capacity of the Masjid al-Haram, or 6,000 staff members.
The second phase will witness a 75 percent increase in the operational capacity and the number of pilgrims.
The third phase, which kicks off on October 18, will allow people from abroad to perform the Umrah, Mashat said. The Kingdom will announce the countries that will be allowed to fly in pilgrims.
