Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has said that Umrah arriving pilgrims must present either a negative Covid-19 PCR test result or a negative rapid antigen test result taken within 48 hours from the date of departure.

The new ruling has come into effect from February 9, Saudi Press Agency reported. The directive applies to all pilgrims, irrespective of their immunisation status.

The COVID-19 pandemic had brought Umrah and Hajj to a halt. Last year, the Kingdom limited the Hajj pilgrimage to 60,000 residents and nationals living in the Kingdom due to the pandemic. Earlier in February, the authorities mandated booster shots in order to be considered “immune” in the country’s contact-tracing Tawakkalna app for people over 18 who were vaccinated more than eight months ago.

(Source: TTN)