FILE PHOTO: Muslims, keeping a safe social distance, pray as they perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque after Saudi authorities ease the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, November 1, 2020. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS
August 7, 2021
CAIRO – (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia said on Saturday it would gradually receive Umrah pilgrimage requests from abroad starting Aug. 9, with a capacity that would go from 60,000 pilgrims to 2 million pilgrims per month, the state news agency (SPA) reported early on Sunday.
An official in the Hajj and Umrah Ministry said pilgrims will have to provide authorized COVID-19 vaccination certificate in their Umrah request.
(Reporting by Alaa Swilam; Editing by David Gregorio)
