Saudi Arabia to hold ‘very limited’ Hajj amid coronavirus pandemic

Only citizens and those living in country will be able to attend, officials announce

The pilgrimage traditionally draws around two million people from around the world (AFP/Getty)

Saudi Arabia will hold a “very limited” Hajj for citizens and residents living inside the country due to the threat of coronavirus, officials have announced.

The kingdom will go ahead with the annual pilgrimage, that traditionally draws around two million people from around the world, though the Ministry of Hajj did not specify how many people would be permitted to take part.

Saudi Arabia said its decision to limit the number of pilgrims was made due to the lack of an available vaccine for the virus or a cure for those infected, as well as the risks associated with large gatherings of people.

“This decision was taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective,” the ministry said.

It comes as the government announced it will end a nationwide curfew and lift restrictions on businesses from Sunday morning, after three months of lockdown.

Restrictions will remain in place for religious pilgrimages, international travel and social gatherings of more than 50 people.

The kingdom has one of the highest rates of coronavirus infections in the Middle East, with more than 161,000 total confirmed cases and 1,307 deaths.

Saudi Arabia had already suspended the smaller year-round umrah pilgrimage earlier this year and closed the Grand Mosque in Mecca, home to Islam’s holiest site, to the public.

The city of Mecca was also under a strict lockdown for around two months.

Although Saudi Arabia has lifted some restrictions in recent days around the country, the umrah continues to be suspended and its borders remain shut to visitors and tourists.

Indonesia and Malaysia, which combined send around a 250,000 Muslims to the Hajj each year, had already announced they would not be sending their citizens to the pilgrimage this year.

The Hajj pilgrimage, which starts at the end of July, centres around five intense days of worship and rituals in Mecca, however pilgrims typically begin arriving to Saudi Arabia through its main gateway city of Jeddah weeks and even months in advance.

All able-bodied Muslims are required to perform the Hajj pilgrimage once in their lifetime.

Saudi Arabia has never cancelled the Hajj in the nearly 90 years since the country was founded.

Additional reporting by AP