Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj & Umrah announced guidelines for issuing Umrah & prayer permits for the month of Ramadan. Vaccinations are at the top of priority list, No worshippers will allowed into either Makkah’s Grand Mosque or the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah without having received at least minimum one dose of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.
Additionally, Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah & Guidance has highlighted the need to follow all precautionary measures to ensure the safety, health & security of those visiting the two holy mosques. Millions of worshippers have visited the mosques while wearing masks and maintaining physical distance since a seven-month suspension of prayers and Umrah was lifted last October.
An estimated 1.5 million worshippers have been to the Grand Mosque in the first 10 days of Ramadan alone. Exclusive interview with Arab News, Dr. Amr Al-Maddah, deputy minister for Hajj and Umrah services at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, answered all possible questions of pilgrims and worshippers who wish to perform the Islamic ritual this Ramadan.
All foreigners Traveller who come to Saudi Arabia on Umrah, visit and tourism visas must have insurance coverage against the risks of coronavirus infection.
The Saudi Central Bank and the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance announced on Sunday the need for updating the insurance policy format in this regard by adding coverage for the risks of coronavirus infection.
The addition of this condition aims to provide healthcare services for non-Saudis coming from outside the Kingdom for tourism, visit, and Umrah purposes in the event of their infection with the virus.
This is in order to ensure the safety of everyone, as well as to ensure quick and easy access to treatment services.
The insurance coverage includes the costs of treating the infected people; the costs of quarantine procedures for the infected, and the medical evacuation in cases of emergency.