Makkah Al-Mukarramah - The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with the concerned authorities, began implementing the second phase of the gradual return of performing Umrah and visiting, from citizens and residents in the Kingdom, today, Sunday,  1 Rabi Al-Awwal  1442 AH corresponding to October 18, 2020 CE

According to the executive plan drawn up by government agencies, the second phase of the return of Umrah and the visit will witness greater numbers than the first phase, reaching 15,000 pilgrims and 40,000 worshipers per day as a maximum, as citizens and residents will be allowed to perform Umrah, at 75% of the capacity that The sanitary precautionary measures are observed for the Grand Mosque, and each regiment will be allocated only 3 hours to complete the rituals of Umrah, and they will be allowed to pray in the Prophet’s Mosque, with 75% of the capacity that takes into account the health precautionary measures.

It is noteworthy that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has developed a four-stage plan for the Umrah and the visit, according to precise health precautions.

The first stages began on October 4, 2020.

Today, October 18, it will be open to the same category, i.e. those within the Kingdom, including citizens and residents.

On the first of November, the third phase will start when it will be allowed from within the Kingdom, and from outside it as well.

As for the fourth stage, no time has been set for it, and it will only start “when the competent authority decides the end of the pandemic risks,” at which time the percentage will be raised to the “natural absorptive capacity” of the Two Holy Mosques.