The authorities in Saudi Arabia have set a limit of 1 million Haj pilgrims in 2022.
Only these many from inside and outside the country will be permitted to perform the Hajj this year, nevertheless higher than only a few thousand local pilgrims allowed in the past two years.
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The Ministry of Haj and Umrah said the annual Muslim pilgrimage would be permitted for people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and are under the age of 65.
The ministry said in a statement, “It is of supreme importance to the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to preserve the safety and security of Hajj pilgrims as well as visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque while ensuring that the maximum number of Muslims worldwide can perform Hajj and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in a safe and spiritual atmosphere.”
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The number of pilgrims from each country is being capped and pilgrims from outside Saudi Arabia a negative COVID-19 PCR result taken no more than 72 hours before their departure will be needed.
Before the pandemic, about 2.5 million people performed the pilgrimage and in 2021 it was 60,000 and only 1,000 the year before that.
