Saudi Arabia appoints 50 women to serve Umrah pilgrims

Saudi Arabia has designated 50 local women to serve Umrah pilgrims and worshippers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Gulf News quoted state-run news agency SPA as saying.

The escort or the Mutawafah would accompany old women among the pilgrims and would guide them to different places inside the mosque as well as drive the carts around the holy site.

The statement added that the women would also provide information to the pilgrims regarding the safety measures against Covid-19.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has also provided a smartphone app for pilgrims to reserve electric and ordinary carts to use while performing the Umrah rituals in the Grand Mosque

The Mutawafah also guides women pilgrims about following precautions against Covid-19 for their safety.

On October 2, the kingdom had announced reopening the holy places for the year-round Umrah pilgrimage, scaled back and with extensive health precautions, seven months after coronavirus prompted its suspension.

The Umrah, the pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time, usually attracts millions of Muslims from across the globe each year.

It was be revived in three stages, with the initial phase seeing just 6,000 citizens and residents already within the kingdom allowed to take part each day.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has eased restrictions on women, including allowing them to drive and receive passports and travel abroad without permission from male guardian..

Under Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's leadership, it has also opened the country to sporting, cultural and entertainment events.

The article originally appeared in Gulf News