Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Friday (June 24) that only Hajj pilgrims will be allowed to perform Umrah between June 24 and July 19.
Hajj is an annual religious pilgrimage to Mecca undertaken each year by millions of people from all over the world. This year Hajj occurs from approximately July 7, 2022, to July 12, 2022. Umrah is a pilgrimage that can be completed at any time of the year.
The Saudi government has announced a series of entry restrictions, including for religious travel.  In 2022, Hajj pilgrims must be under 65 years old and fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
They must also present a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before departure for the Kingdom. Priority will be given to those who have not previously performed Hajj.
Hajj is usually one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, with about 2.5 million people performing the ritual in 2019.
However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Kingdom had sharply decreased the number of pilgrims allowed to perform the ritual.
The Kingdom will allow one million pilgrims from inside and outside the country to participate in this year’s Hajj.
