Saudi Arabia announced on 9 April that it will be increasing its Hajj
pilgrimage capacity this year to one million for both domestic and
foreign Muslims.
This year’s pilgrimage, scheduled for end-July, would be open to:
1. Muslims under the age of 65 who have received Covid-19 vaccinations approved by the Saudi Ministry of Health.
2. International pilgrims who test negative on a Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours before flying into Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that the country is keen on
ensuring that the maximum number of Muslims globally can perform Hajj
and visit the holy city of Mecca in a safe and spiritual atmosphere.
According to the ministry, the number of pilgrims from each country
will be capped based on quotas and other health considerations. Muslims
from abroad were allowed to submit their applications since last August
for a smaller pilgrimage that can take place any time of year, known as
umrah.
The pandemic had previously forced the country to severely restrict
the annual ritual to just 1,000 domestic visitors in 2020, and a limit
of 60,000 pilgrims in 2021.