Saudi officials says 'very limited' Hajj to start from July 29

RIAD: Saudi authorities announced Monday that this year's Hajj will begin on July 29 after it was reduced to include only around 1,000 pilgrims due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Some 2.5 million people from around the world generally participate in the ritual that takes place over several days, centered on the holy city of Makkah.


This year's Hajj will take place under strict hygiene protocols, with limited access to pilgrims under 65 and without chronic diseases.

"The pilgrims' position on Mount Arafat, the peak of the Hajj ritual, falls on Thursday," the official Saudi press agency quoted the Supreme Court as saying that Wednesday would be the first day of the annual event.

The time of Hajj is determined by the position of the moon, according to the Islamic lunar calendar.

Last month, Saudi Arabia announced that it would celebrate a "very limited" Hajj, a decision fraught with political and economic danger as it struggles against a surge in coronavirus infections.

So far, it has seen some 253,349 cases, including 2,523 deaths, the highest number among the Arab Gulf states.

Although Hajj officials said the pilgrimage would be restricted to 1,000 people already present in the kingdom, 70% of them foreigners and the rest Saudi, some press reports have said 10,000 people can participate.

The ritual will be restricted to medical professionals and security personnel who have recovered from the virus, Hajj's ministry said.

Strong punch

The decision to exclude pilgrims arriving from outside Saudi Arabia is the first in the kingdom's modern history and has caused disappointment among Muslims worldwide, although many accepted that it was necessary due to the pandemic.

Pilgrims will be screened for coronaviruses before reaching Makkah and are required to quarantine the home after the ritual, according to health officials.

Saudi Arabia has seen an increase in both confirmed infections and COVID-19 deaths since it eased movement restrictions in late May. It has yet to restore international air links.

Hajj, a must-have for Muslims without disabilities at least once in their lives, could be a major source of contagion, as it takes millions of pilgrims to congested religious sites.

The Muslim World League based in Saudi Arabia and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have supported the government's motion for the health and safety of pilgrims.

But the decision still risks angering hardline Muslims for whom religion trumps health concerns.

A scaled-down Hajj represents a significant loss of revenue for the kingdom, which is already recovering from the twin shocks of the virus-induced slowdown and a drop in oil prices.

The smallest year-round pilgrimage was already suspended in March.

Together, they add $ 12 billion to the Saudi economy each year, according to government figures.

Organizing Hajj is a matter of prestige for Saudi rulers, for whom the custody of the holiest sites in Islam is their most powerful source of political legitimacy.

But a series of deadly disasters over the years, including a 2015 stampede that killed more than 2,300 worshipers, has drawn criticism for managing the pilgrimage kingdom.