Saudi Arabia Preparing for Umrah Season

IQNA – After the end of the Hajj season, during which a large number of pilgrims died due to extreme heat, Saudi Arabia says now that it is preparing to welcome Umrah pilgrims.

Saudi officials say they are completing preparations for the new Umrah season, Arabi21 website reported. 

The country’s General Directorate of Passports said it is ready to welcome pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia from different entry points.  

It stressed the need for the incoming pilgrims to observe all the rules and regulation from the time they arrive until they leave the country.

Meanwhile, there has been criticism after the death of hundreds of Hajj pilgrims.

Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel said last week that more than 1,300 people died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage as the faithful faced extreme high temperatures.

He claimed that 83% of the 1,301 fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims who walked long distances in soaring temperatures to perform the Hajj rituals and that among those who died were some elderly people and those suffering from chronic diseases.

More than 1.8 million Muslims performed the Hajj pilgrimage this year, according to the Saudi authorities, which is almost the same as the number of pilgrims last year.

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