Cairo: Saudi Arabia has highlighted the new rules for performing Umrah or lesser pilgrimage and stated that it is impossible to enhance the appointments set in the required permits issued to undertake the ritual.  

According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah that the appointment can be cancelled through their new app “Eatmarna” six hours at most before the permitted time takes effect to apply for a new permit. 

The new reminder was made following the spike in the numbers of Umrah pilgrims during the Muslim holy month ‘Of Ramadan, it is usually a peak season for performing the rites and rituals at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. 

Moreover, the Ministry also added that the Unvaccinated Muslims are allowed to take Umrah permits and pray at the Grand Mosque. The Prophet Mohammed’s Mosque in Medina provided they were not infected by COVID-19 or had come in touch with the virus patients.

Another rule applied down by the Ministry is that children accompanied by a parent can also have access to the Grand Mosque in order to pray only, indicating that the age restrictions for a child to receive an umrah permit is five years, provided the child did not catch COVID-19 or come in touch with its patients.

The Ministry has advised parents to choose times accordingly when worshippers are not overcrowded for children’s safety.

Moreover, Saudi authorities recently eased the restrictions for performing Umrah as the kingdom has primarily relaxed the restrictions against the COVID-19.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has raised several preventive steps, including cancelling permits for begging at the Grand Mosque and visiting the Prophet’s Mohammed Mosque.

The Ministry has also stated that the immunisation check to enter both holy sites has been discarded for all worshippers.

Moreover, the Ministry has cancelled the once-obligatory registration of immunisation data for overseas Muslims to get an umrah permit.

A compulsory presentation of a negative PCR test result to get access to both sacred places has been lifted too.