60,000 vaccinated pilgrims to perform Haj this year, foreigners barred for second year

From 1,000 to 60,000 pilgrims.

Faris Alfiq | July 15, 2021, 05:18 PM

Saudi Arabia will be hosting the Haj pilgrimage for 60,000 Muslims this year starting from Saturday (July 17), according to Al Arabiya News.

This is the second year the Arab kingdom is hosting a scaled down Haj due to the pandemic. It is also the second time foreigners are barred from the Haj, the report added.

Last year, the Haj was attended by only 1,000 pilgrims, all of whom were residents of Saudi Arabia, compared to 2.5 million pilgrims from all around the world in 2019, AFP reported.

This year, the kingdom received more than 558,000 applications to participate in the ritual, according to AFP. Only those who have been fully vaccinated, or recovered from Covid-19, aged between 18 to 65 with no chronic illness are allowed to participate in the ritual.

S'pore defers Haj for the second time

For Singaporean pilgrims, this is the second time the Haj has been deferred due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) in a statement in May mentioned that the religious authority will be reallocating haj places for the 900 affected pilgrims next year.

Muis added that the reallocation is subjected to the prevailing public health conditions in Singapore and around the world as well as the requirements by the Saudi authorities.

The Association of Muslim Travel Agents (Amtas) also supports Muis' decision and agreed to refund the deposits paid by pilgrims last year which was carried over to this year. 

Top image from STR/AFP via Getty Images