Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has revealed the requirements and procedure of registration for Hajj 2021 via the electronic portal for domestic pilgrims.

The Ministry has allowed women to register for the pilgrimage without a male guardian (mahram) along with other women.

“Those wishing to perform Hajj will have to register individually.”

The Ministry has announced three Hajj packages. The first package (Hospitality Package Camps) costs SR12,113; the second package (Distinguished Hospitality Camps) is priced at SR14,381 and the third package (Distinguished Hospitality Towers) costs SR16,560.

The Ministry pointed out to the following requirements before registering:

• Age group should be from 18 to 65 years old.

• The health condition must be (immune, immune by the first dose, immune by recovery)

• Free of chronic diseases.

• Registration will be available for citizens and residents inside Saudi Arabia who did not perform Hajj in the last five years.

The registration period for this year’s Hajj will be open from June 13 until June 23 through http://localhaj.haj.gov.sa.

Starting from June 25, the second phase of registration will begin which includes sorting and completing the registration.

The Ministry said paying and purchasing the package must be within three hours of selecting the package to avoid cancelation.

“Sorting is carried out based on the health and regulatory standards.”

“Taking into consideration the age groups, priority will be for registered applications who have never performed Hajj before,” the Ministry added.

On Saturday, Saudi Arabia said it would limit registration for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage to citizens and residents of the Kingdom in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ministries of Health and Hajj announced that a total of 60,000 pilgrims would be allowed to perform the pilgrimage this year, which will begin mid-July.

Hajj pilgrims should be fully vaccinated, or those who took one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before, or those who are vaccinated after recovering from coronavirus infection.

The decision is “based on the Kingdom’s constant keenness to enable the guests and visitors at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque to perform the rituals of Hajj and Umrah,” the ministry said.

“The Kingdom puts human health and safety first.”