BREAKING: Saudi resumes ‘Umrah’ pilgrimage

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it would start allowing pilgrims to perform Umrah in gradual stages, Mouthpiece NGR has learnt. 

The ministry of interior said the country will gradually resume the year-round Umrah pilgrimage from October 4, after it was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In the first stage, “6,000 citizens and residents within the kingdom will be allowed to perform the Umrah per day from October 4”, the ministry said in a statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Visitors from outside the kingdom will be permitted from November 1, when Umrah’s capacity will be raised to 20,000 pilgrims per day, the ministry said.