The first foreign Hajj pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia since the start of COVID

According to state media, a group of Hajj pilgrims from Indonesia has arrived in Medina, from where they will travel to Mecca, marking the arrival of the first batch of pilgrims from outside the kingdom in two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Saudi Arabia announced last month that it would allow one million people – both inside and outside the kingdom – to perform the Hajj in July, up from about 60,000 last year and less than 1,000 in 2020.

“We received the first group of this year’s pilgrims from Indonesia today, and flights from Malaysia and India will continue,” Mohammed al-Bijawi of the country’s Hajj Ministry told the state-run Al-Ekhbariya channel.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, we are happy to welcome God’s guests from outside the kingdom today,” he added, describing Saudi Arabia as “fully prepared” to accommodate them.

The Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars, must be performed at least once in the lives of all Muslims who have the means.

Normally one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, approximately 2.5 million people attended the 2019 Hajj – the final Hajj before the coronavirus outbreak.

The ban on overseas pilgrims disappointed Muslims around the world, who typically save for years to participate.

The Hajj is a five-day series of religious rites performed in Islam’s holiest city, Mecca, and surrounding areas of western Saudi Arabia.

Hosting the Hajj is a source of prestige for Saudi rulers, as custody of Islam’s holiest sites is the most powerful source of political legitimacy.

According to the Hajj Ministry, this year’s pilgrimage will be restricted to vaccinated Muslims under the age of 65.

Those applying for Hajj visas from outside Saudi Arabia must submit a negative COVID-19 PCR result from a test taken within 72 hours of travel.