Saudi Arabia suspends umrah visas

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 27 Feb 2020 8:15AM · 1 Comments

Saudi Arabia is closing the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina to pilgrims following the Covid-19 outbreak. – AFP pic, February 27, 2020.

SAUDI Arabia today suspended visas for pilgrims wishing to visit Mecca, the foreign affairs ministry said, as the coronavirus spreads across the Middle East.

The government is “suspending entry to the kingdom for the purpose of umrah and visiting the Prophet’s mosque temporarily”, the ministry said in a statement, referring to the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of the year.

It has also suspended visas for tourists visiting from countries where the new virus is a “danger”. 

Even as the number of fresh cases declines at the epicentre of the disease in China, there has been a sudden increase in parts of Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Iran has emerged as a major hot spot in the region, where 15 people have succumbed to the disease –officially known as Covid-19.

The Gulf states of Kuwait and Bahrain have also announced additional cases this week. – AFP, February 27, 2020.

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Comments

  • Unfortunately, Its true, But it is for the safety of the people, pilgrims and the world. Saudi Arabia is giving its best for preventing the spread of Corona, They are also providing aid to China to fight against the virus. It is time of acting wisely about this deadly virus. Suspension of Umrah pilgrimage is temporarily as per Saudi Health authorities. saudi-expatriates.com/2020/02/saudi-arabia-temporarily-ban-entry-for-umrah-pilgrimage-after-coronavirus.html

    Posted 4 years ago by Aaira Shaik · Reply