Saudi Arabia allows Covid-immunised teenagers to perform Umrah

Ministry of Hajj and Umrah advises pilgrims to strictly follow SOPs to prevent spread of coronavirus

ISLAMABAD:

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has confirmed that local pilgrims aged from 12 to 18 can obtain Umrah permits if they have received two vaccine doses.

The announcement follows the inauguration of the 2021 Umrah season on August 10.

More than 13,000 permits were issued for this age group, allowing them to perform Umrah and visit the Prophet’s (PBUH) Mosque.

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Abdul-Fattah bin Suleiman Mashat said that Umrah permits are issued through the Eatmarna and Tawakkalna applications, with an integrated system of services and preventive measures ensuring the safety and health of those wishing to perform Umrah rituals, Arab News reported.

Mashat said that the ministry worked with other authorities before this year’s Umrah season to establish executive mechanisms and create a safe environment for pilgrims.

He highlighted the need to adhere to health procedures established by the ministry to ensure the safety of pilgrims and those serving them, and to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Umrah permits must be obtained through the Eatmarna and Tawakkalna applications, the deputy minister added.

Also read: Saudi Arabia opens Umrah to vaccinated foreign pilgrims

On Sunday, the kingdom's state news agency, SPA, said that Saudi Arabia would gradually begin receiving Umrah pilgrimage requests from abroad for vaccinated pilgrims starting August 9 after about a year and a half of not receiving overseas worshippers due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

With a capacity that would rise to 2 million pilgrims from 60,000 pilgrims per month, Mecca and Medina will start welcoming visitors from abroad to their mosques while maintaining Covid-19 precautionary measures.

An official in the Hajj and Umrah Ministry said domestic and overseas pilgrims will have to include authorised Covid-19 vaccination certificates along with their Umrah request.

Vaccinated pilgrims from countries that Saudi Arabia includes on its entry-ban list will have to be institutionally quarantined upon arrival, the report added.