Saudi Arabia to allow 60,000 vaccinated residents to perform Haj

Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday it will allow 60,000 vaccinated residents of the kingdom to perform the annual Haj, state media reported.

The Haj ministry said this year's pilgrimage would be “open for nationals and residents of the kingdom, limited to 60,000 pilgrims”, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

The pilgrimage, scheduled to be held at the end of July, would be limited to those who have been vaccinated and are below 65 years of age with no chronic illnesses, it said.

It will be the second year in a row that the kingdom hosts a downscaled Haj amid the coronavirus pandemic.