Avian Flu Diary: Saudi Arabia Restricts Visitors & Umrah Pilgrims From COVID-19 Hit Countries

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The sudden proliferation of COVID-19 in Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, and other parts of the Middle East comes less than two months before the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan, when several million religious pilgrims make the trek to visit the Holy cities in Saudi Arabia.

All able bodied Muslims are required to make at least one major pilgrimage to Mecca during their lifetime, at the time of the hajj. This is known as the fifth pillar of Islam, and is one of the duties incumbent upon all Muslims.

The faithful may also make `lesser pilgrimages’, called omra (or Umrah), at other times of the year. These minor pilgrimages don’t absolve the faithful of making the hajj journey unless they take place during Ramadan.

As a result, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) receives more than 7 million visitors each year, with most of them arriving during the month of Ramadan (this year: April 23rd- May 23rd) and during the upcoming Hajj in late July.

Overnight the Saudi Government announced new restrictions on entry into the country, the visiting of Holy Shrines, and travel to affected areas, in a bid to hamper the entry of the virus into the Kingdom.

This (translated) report from the Saudi News Agency.

Political / Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The Kingdom closely follows the developments of the spread of the new Coronavirus and decides to take several precautionary measures to prevent the arrival of the virus in the Kingdom

Thursday, July 14, 2020/02/27

Riyadh 2 Rajab 1441 H 26 February 2020 Was

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the competent health authorities in Saudi Arabia are closely following the developments of the spread of the new coronavirus (19-COVID), and the Ministry emphasizes the government's keenness through these entities to apply the international standards adopted, and to support the efforts of states and international organizations, especially the World Health Organization to stop the spread of the virus, contain it and eliminate it, God willing.

In order to complete the efforts that have been taken to provide maximum protection to the safety of citizens and residents and anyone who intends to come to the kingdom to perform umrah or visit the Prophet's Mosque or for the purpose of tourism, and in accordance with the recommendations of the competent health authorities to apply the highest precautionary standards, and to take proactive preventive measures to prevent the arrival and spread of the new Coronavirus (19-COVID) virus in the Kingdom, the Government of the Kingdom has decided to take the following precautionary measures:

Suspend entry into the Kingdom for umrah purposes and temporarily visit the Prophet's Mosque.

Suspension of entry into the Kingdom with tourist visas for those coming from countries where the spread of the new CORONA virus (19-COVID) is dangerous, in accordance with the standards set by the competent health authorities in the Kingdom.

Suspend the use of Saudi nationals and citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to travel to and from the Kingdom, except for Saudis who are abroad in case they leave the Kingdom with a national ID card, and gcc citizens who are currently inside the Kingdom, and wish to return to their countries, if they enter with the national identity card, in order to verify the relevant authorities in the ports visited by the next one before arriving in the Kingdom, and apply health precautions to deal with those coming countries.

The Kingdom emphasizes that these measures are temporary and subject to constant evaluation by the competent authorities.