The three-year long restrictions on Hajj travel to curb the covid-19 pandemic finally come to an end. On Monday Saudi Arabia announced that there will be no limit on the number of pilgrims for this year’s Hajj.
“The number of pilgrims will return to what it was before the pandemic, without any age limit,” Umrah Tawfiq al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj was quoted as saying by AFP. The Saudi kingdom also discarded the age limit of 18 to 65 for vaccinated pilgrims that was imposed due to the pandemic. Last year Saudi kingdom opened its gates for a million people with foreign visitors being allowed for the first time in two years. This year’s hajj pilgrimage is scheduled to begin in June.
During the opening of #Hajj_Expo 2023, H.E. Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq AlRabiah announces:
“Number of Hajj pilgrims in 1444H will return to how it was before the Coronavirus pandemic without age restrictions.”#Makkah_and_Madinah_Eagerly_Await_You pic.twitter.com/IZaPNqapIV— Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (@MoHU_En) January 9, 2023
The Saudi authorities stated that a woman pilgrim no longer required to be accompanied by a male guardian or “mahram” to undertake Hajj last year in October, marking another positive step. According to experts, these reforms would significantly increase the number of pilgrims visiting the nation.
Local reports suggest that priority this year would be given to those during the registration who have not made the pilgrimage before. One of Islam’s five pillars, the pilgrimage is something that every able-bodied Muslim with the means must do at least once.
