Hajj 2023: Saudi Arabia gears up for busy pilgrimage season

Permits to be issued from Friday

Hajj will return to pre-pandemic numbers as Saudi Arabia has removed all Covid-19 restrictions, although pilgrims must be vaccinated. Photo: Saleh Al Shaibany

Saudi authorities are gearing up for a busy Hajj season, which is set to start on June 25.

This year, authorities have stressed that pilgrims who wish to perform Hajj must be vaccinated against Covid-19.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said the vaccination deadline was 10 days before the Hajj season begins, and that pilgrims must have all three doses of a Covid-19 vaccine for them to obtain the Hajj permit.

Vaccinations against seasonal flu and meningococcal meningitis are also listed by the ministry. Other vaccines required for those coming from outside Saudi Arabia include yellow fever and polio.

Hajj permits will be issued from Friday.

Pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba in Makkah. AP

Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque. AP

Muslims take part in Hajj rituals at the Kaaba in Makkah. AP

Reporters fly over the Grand Mosque. AP

Hundreds of buses wait to carry pilgrims. AP

A satellite image shows pilgrims circumambulating the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque. SPA

Pilgrims on the first day of Tashreeq throw the three Jamarat, beginning with Jamarat al-Soghra, then al-Wusta, and then Jamrat al-Aqaba. SPA

Pilgrims on the first day of Tashreeq throw the three Jamarat, beginning with Jamarat al-Soghra, then al-Wusta, and then Jamrat al-Aqaba. SPA

Pilgrims on the first day of Tashreeq throw the three Jamarat, beginning with Jamarat al-Soghra, then al-Wusta, and then Jamrat al-Aqaba. SPA

Pilgrims on the first day of Tashreeq throw the three Jamarat, beginning with Jamarat al-Soghra, then al-Wusta, and then Jamrat al-Aqaba. SPA

Pilgrims walk to cast stones at a pillar in the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo

Pilgrims walk before casting their stones. Reuters

Pilgrims cast their stones. Reuters

Pilgrims cast their stones. Reuters

Pilgrims cast their stones. Reuters

Pilgrims walk to cast their stones. Reuters

Hajj pilgrims collect pebbles for the stoning of the devil ritual in Muzdalifa, Saudi Arabia. EPA

Pilgrims collect pebbles. EPA

Pilgrims cast stones. AP

Pilgrims cast stones. AP

Pilgrims gather atop Mount Arafat during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage. AFP

Pilgrims pray as they gather at Mount Arafat. EPA

Saudi Arabia this year is allowing one million Muslims, including some 850,000 from abroad, to make the annual Hajj pilgrimage for the first time in two years. EPA

A Saudi police helicopter patrols over Namira Mosque in Arafat. AP Photo

Pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat. Reuters

Pilgrims arrive on the plains of Mount Arafat. EPA

Pilgrims climb Gebel Rahmah (Mount of Mercy) where the Prophet Mohammed gave his last sermon, as people congregate on the plains of Arafat. EPA

Pilgrims gather atop Mount Arafat during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage. AFP

A Muslim woman prays atop Mount Arafat. AFP

Muslim pilgrims touch the pillar atop Mount Arafat. AFP

Pilgrims gather to pray atop Mount Arafat. AFP

Pilgrims walk towards the Namirah mosque near Mount Arafat. AFP

Muslim pilgrims pray on the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy. AP Photo

Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount of Mercy. Reuters

Pilgrims pray on the Mountain of Mercy. AP

Pilgrims gather on Mount of Mercy. Reuters

Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount of Mercy. Reuters

Hajj pilgrims head to Mina for the day of Tarwiyah as temperatures hit 44ºC. SPA

Pilgrims pray at the Kaaba in Makkah's Grand Mosque on the eve of the first day of Hajj. SPA

Hajj pilgrims head to Mina for the day of Tarwiyah as temperatures hit 44ºC. SPA

The ministry opened registration for Hajj 2023 in January for pilgrims living in the kingdom, with the price of packages beginning at 3,984 riyals ($1,062).

The final instalment, which needed to be paid last month, is 40 per cent of the total amount pilgrims must pay for their chosen package.

The ministry opened registrations for international pilgrims in February, to give those who had performed Hajj more than five years ago another chance to apply for a permit.

Priority has been given to those who have never performed Hajj before. People in this category can apply until June 25, through the Nusuk app and the official website.

This year, the Nusuk programme for Hajj pilgrims was expanded to include more countries around the world.

Nusuk is a unified government portal that helps pilgrims to apply and pay online for electronic visas, accommodation, transport and book flights.

This year, Hajj will return to pre-pandemic numbers as the country will remove all Covid-19 restrictions. In 2019, before the pandemic, about 2.6 million people performed Hajj.