Saudi Arabia opens Umrah pilgrimage to Muslims from abroad

Saudi Arabia will open the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca for Muslims from other countries from Nov. 1, Saudi media reported, as the kingdom relaxes measures it had taken to check the spread of the coronavirus.

Umrah is a pilgrimage which can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to Hajj, which has specific dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar.

Saudi Arabia closed its borders in February to foreign Umrah pilgrims, and in March stopped its own citizens and residents from taking part.

In July, it allowed a limited number of domestic pilgrims to perform the Hajj.

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