Saudi Arabia imposes new Hajj rules.

Saudi Arabia, the host of the annual Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj, has announced new rules and penalties for service providers who violate the regulations and provide Hajj services without the necessary licenses. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that entities practicing Hajj service activities without the required permits would face a hefty fine of SR 500,000 ($133,000) and other legal actions. The ministry also launched a campaign to raise awareness about the rights of pilgrims arriving from abroad in the kingdom to perform Umrah or lesser pilgrimage in Makkah, and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

The new rules come as Saudi Arabia prepares to curtail unauthorized and subpar Hajj service operations. The kingdom said that only fully vaccinated citizens and residents of the country and abroad would be allowed to perform Hajj, providing they are under the age of 65. Pilgrims travelling from outside Saudi Arabia will also need to have a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before their departure for the kingdom, and follow health precautions in Mecca to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah urged the stakeholders to adhere to the new rules and regulations and cooperate with the authorities to ensure a safe and smooth Hajj experience. worldnewsstudio.com/saudi-arabia-imposes-new-hajj-rules/