Haram presidency gears up to receive pilgrims
These initiatives include the installation of highly advanced versions of thermal cameras equipped with high-resolution monitoring systems to issue alerts when high temperature is recorded for any of the pilgrims and visitors entering the Grand Mosque, which will allow the authorities to deal instantly with those suspected of being infected with the virus.
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Umrah App to be available on smartphones from Sept. 27
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Wednesday that the entry of Umrah pilgrims, worshipers and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques will be regulated through the application “I’tamarna,” which will be available on smartphones effective from Sept. 27 (Safar 10).
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Saudi Arabia allows gradual resumption of Umrah from Oct. 4
Saudi Arabia has announced the gradual resumption of Umrah and visits to the Two Holy Mosques with a limited number of pilgrims, starting from Oct. 4, 2020, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday citing a source at the Ministry of Interior.
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Hajj savings mobile app expected to entice Indonesian millennials
Principal Global Investors will launch a mobile app in Indonesia later this month designed to help the country's 80 million millennials get an early start on saving for the hajj — the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca that's obligatory for Muslims to make at least once in their lifetimes.
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Saudi Arabia to launch app for Mecca pilgrims amid virus
Saudi Arabia on Monday released new details on how it plans to gradually allow Muslims back to Islam's holiest site in Mecca to perform the smaller, year-round pilgrimage, which has been suspended for the past seven months due to the coronavirus.
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Umrah pilgrimage to be restored in phases
Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mohammed Saleh Benten said that while public health remains the Kingdom’s top priority, his ministry is studying a three-stage plan for the gradual restoration of the pilgrimage.
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Saudi Arabia to set up Red Sea Museum in Jeddah
The Saudi Ministry of Culture has announced it will set up the Red Sea Museum in the Bab Al Bunt building in historical Jeddah, which will be inaugurated in late 2022, local media reported.
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Conditions set for merger of Umrah companies
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has set six requirements as the criteria for the merger of Umrah service providing companies and establishments. This follows the ministry's recent initiative to mitigate the economic and financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the Umrah sector.
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Saudi Arabia stays mum on permission to perform umrah
Saudi Arabia has yet to make any announcement pertaining to permission to perform the umrah (minor pilgrimage), said the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri.
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Saudi Arabia resumes partial international flight operations
International flights resumed in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday following the decision of the Saudi authorities to exempt certain categories of Saudis and expatriates from the temporary travel ban imposed since March as part of precautionary measures to stem the spread of coronavirus.
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Unclear whether international umrah will resume in January: Sahuc
The South African Haj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) says there is no definitive answer on whether umrah will open up to international travellers early next year. Saudi Arabia has announced it will open its international borders on 1st January 2021, however, the decision will be reviewed in December.
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Hajj minister launches virtual forum to enrich pilgrim experience
A virtual forum aimed at enriching pilgrims' experiences in the hospitality field was inaugurated on Sunday by Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Mohammed Salih Bentin.
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