Makkah | There will be no special restrictions for the pilgrims arriving at the holy land for this year’s holy Hajj. Saudi Hajj-Umrah Affairs Minister Tawfiq Al Rabia said that conditions including age limit have been waived. The minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of this year’s Hajj Expo at the Jeddah Superdome. The number of pilgrims participating in Hajj this year will return to pre-pandemic levels, the minister said.
The four-day expo aims to build a digital ecosystem that will help pilgrims discuss and plan technological advancements based on scientific foundations, anticipate future needs of pilgrims and create more opportunities for partnerships, agreements and initiatives at regional and international levels. On the first day of the Expo, Minister Al-Rabia signed 57 cooperation agreements with representatives from various countries.
In 2019, 2.5 million pilgrims participated in Hajj. In 2020-21, many people did not get the opportunity to perform Hajj due to restrictions imposed in the last two years due to the global spread of the Kovid epidemic. With Saudi Arabia increasing the Hajj quota for India in 2023, 1,75,025 Indian pilgrims will be able to perform Hajj this year. This is the highest number in history.
Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Awda, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Ministry of Shared Services, CEO of the General Authority for Exhibitions and Conventions, with the aim of enhancing the quality of services through electronic platforms to help those arriving at the Holy Land perform Hajj-Umrah with peace and ease and enrich the religious and historical experience of pilgrims. Amjad Bin Essam Shaker signed the MoU.