Saudi Arabia's screening of Hajj applications enters second phase

Nearly 560,000 people applied for 60,000 permits being issued to residents only

More than two million pilgrims performed the Hajj in 2019, but the 2021 pilgrimage is restricted to 60,000 residents of Saudi Arabia. AFP

The second stage of the selection process for 60,000 places available at the Hajj pilgrimage this year began on Friday, with applications being sorted according to health status.

The pilgrimage is being limited to residents of the kingdom for a second consecutive year as a coronavirus health precaution.

Applicants must be between 18 and 65 years of age, have received at least one dose of a Saudi-recognised vaccine at least 14 days beforehand, and be free of chronic diseases.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said it received 558,270 applications by the deadline on Wednesday. More than 450,000 people applied within 24 hours of applications opening on June 13.

The ministry said 41 per cent of the applications were from women, who this year will be allowed to perform the pilgrimage in groups without a male guardian.

Most of the applicants (38 per cent) were in the 31-40 age group, followed by those between 21 and 30 years old (26 per cent), 41 and 50 (20 per cent) and 51 and 60 (11 per cent). The fewest applications were from people over 60 (2 per cent) and 18 to 20-year-olds (3 per cent).

The ministry said priority will be given to people who have not performed Hajj in the past five years and those over 50 who have never made the pilgrimage.

Successful applicants must choose from one of three packages available on the ministry website and make payment within three hours to avoid cancellation of their permit.

Saudi authorities explained the decision to restrict participation to citizens and residents.

"We took this decision for the greater good of everyone. We don't want Hajj this year to turn into an infection hot spot," Saudi Deputy Health Minister Hani Jokhdar said at a WHO briefing in Cairo on Thursday.

In recent years the annual Hajj, which Muslims must perform at least once in their lifetime, has drawn more than two million people from all over the world who spend days in close proximity as they perform the rituals of the pilgrimage in Makkah and Madinah.

Dr Jokhdar said that this year pilgrims will be divided into fixed groups that take turns to visit the holy sites.

Each group will be assigned a health official, who will monitor members throughout the six days of Hajj and promptly handle suspected or confirmed infections.