Makkah, Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that the government of Saudi Arabia has decided to increase this year's Hajj capacity to 1 million pilgrims from Saudi Arabia and abroad, according to each country's allocation, and in line with preventive recommendations.

The Ministry said this decision was based on the profound concern afforded by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' government to pilgrims' safety, and the wellbeing of those visiting Masjid al-Haram and The Prophet's Mosque, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The decision also stems from Saudi Arabia's keen interest in maintaining the uninterrupted continuity of Hajj, alongside enabling the largest number of Muslims around the world to fulfill their Hajj and Umrah duties and visit the prophet's mosque with an ether of spiritual peace. Saudi Arabia is also aiming to safeguard the milestones it achieved in the healthcare sector as it grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry clarified that the following regulations will apply to Hajj 2022:

1. Pilgrims should be less than 65 years old according to the Gregorian calendar, and are required to have full immunization with the basic doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine according to the Saudi Ministry of Health.

2. Those attending Hajj from abroad must submit a negative PCR test for COVID-19, using a sample taken within 72 hours before departure to Saudi Arabia.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has stressed that pilgrims must adhere to preventive measures, and must follow precautionary instructions while performing their Hajj duties, to ensure their health and wellbeing.

Source: Bahrain News Agency