Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - The period of stay of pilgrims in the kingdom has been increased to 30 days. Pilgrims vaccinated with WHO-approved vaccines, but not on the kingdom’s list of drugs, will have to undergo a three-day quarantine and provide a negative PCR test, TASS reported.

Saudi Arabia has named new conditions for performing the small hajj (umrah) in connection with the spread of the omicron strain of coronavirus infection. This was announced on Thursday by Al-Jazeera TV channel with reference to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Affairs.

The TV channel reports that in order to perform umrah, pilgrims need to be vaccinated with two-component drugs for COVID-19, approved in the kingdom. Pilgrims vaccinated with WHO-approved vaccines but not on the kingdom’s list of drugs will be required to undergo a three-day quarantine and present a negative PCR test 48 hours after quarantine.

According to a ministry decree, the period of stay of pilgrims in the kingdom was increased to 30 days. Earlier, foreigners were allowed to stay in the country for 10 days during the performance of the small hajj. It is also noted that only persons who have reached the age of 18 will be allowed to perform umrah.

Umrah - a small hajj - can be performed at any time of the year, unlike the big hajj, which is strictly limited by time frames.

The ministry explained that the introduction of new conditions for pilgrims arriving from abroad is associated with the detection in the country of the first case of infection with the omicron strain of coronavirus. However, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health, Fahd al-Jalajil, said that "the kingdom continues to monitor the development of the situation in the world," urging all pilgrims to "comply with security measures and restrictive regulations."

Since 1 November 2020, Saudi Arabia has allowed foreigners to make pilgrimages to the holy sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina. Initially, throughput was limited to 30%, but gradually it was increased to 100%. In September, the kingdom’s authorities allowed pilgrims over 70 years old to make umrah.