Saudi Arabia said on Monday that a small number of residents will be allowed to perform Hajj this year.
Saudi authorities wanted “to establish a ritual safe in a healthy manner”, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
People from various nationalities based in Saudi would be eligible to perform the Hajj, depending on health and safety precautions.
A statement from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said “very limited numbers” would be allowed to perform the pilgrimage, in line with “the teachings of Islam” and preserving the health of all.
It said the Hajj preparations would include requirements for disease prevention and social separation.
The country has recorded 161,005 cases and 1,307 deaths, but on Sunday lockdown orders were lifted.
People spent time at the seafront promenade in the port city of Jeddah as the country reopened, and flocked to hairdressers, barbers and shops across the kingdom.
Workers returned as offices, mosques, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and gyms reopened after more than three months of measures to curb the spread of the virus, including nightly lockdowns.
Roads in Jeddah, which had been eerily quiet for months, sprang to life from 6am, with people venturing out of their homes to shop.
As Saudi authorities made the announcement, the number of people infected with the coronavirus worldwide passed nine million, the latest figures from Johns Hopkins showed.
More than half of the 9,003,042 cases are in Europe and the US, with the latter recording more than 2.2 million cases.
Iran is the worst hit Middle East nation, with 207,525 reported cases and 9,742 deaths.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Manchester City transfers:
OUTS
Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Willy Caballero and Jesus Navas (all released)
INS
Ederson (Benfica) £34.7m, Bernardo Silva (Monaco) £43m
ON THEIR WAY OUT?
Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Fabian Delph, Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho
ON THEIR WAY IN?
Dani Alves (Juventus), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
The specs
Price: From Dh180,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 320hp @ 5,700rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.7L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
