Saudi Arabia welcomes first foreign hajj pilgrims since pandemic
Workers disinfect the grounds as Muslim pilgrims keep social distancing as they circumambulate the Kaaba during the final ritual of the hajj that pilgrims must perform before they return home, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. - AP file photo
RIYADH: The first batch of Hajj pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
The group of 358 pilgrims which was from Indonesia arrived at Prince Mohamed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in the holy city of Madinah, Anadolu Agency citing report by state news agency SPA.
Saudi Arabia has limited the Hajj to domestic pilgrims for the past two years due to the pandemic. A total of 60,000 pilgrims performed Hajj last year compared to around 2.5 million in 2019.
The pilgrimage to Islam's holiest site, the Kaaba in the city of Mecca, is one of the five pillars of Islam.
A Muslim is required to perform the Hajj at least once if they have the means.
-- BERNAMA
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