RIYADH – The Saudi authorities said that 150,000 people would be allowed toperform Umrah or prayers daily at Makkah’s Grand Mosque during Ramadan,which starts next week.

General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques said up to100,000 worshippers would be allowed to pray at the Grand Mosque and that50,000 pilgrims will be allowed to perform Umrah, as part of its plan toincrease operational capacity, Arab news reported on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Guidance and Dawah said that Umrah permitswill be given to pilgrims aged 65 and over who had already been vaccinatedagainst coronavirus.

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of the Two HolyMosques, said that inoculation is a requirement for entering the GrandMosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Abdullatif Al-Asheikh issued a directivewith precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus duringRamadan.

It said that iftar, suhur and itikaf inside mosques during Ramadan would besuspended, while the number of locations for Eid Al-Fitr prayers would beexpanded.

Al-Asheikh said that matters related to holding tarawih and qiyam prayersin mosques would be announced later.

The deputy minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Abdel Fattah Mashat, said peoplewishing to perform Umrah during Ramadan would have to submit a permitapplication through the Tawakkalna app not the Eatmarna app, and that therewould be an update in the coming days to provide the permits.

Permits will be distributed on a weekly basis during Ramadan for pilgrimsand people wishing to pray at the Two Holy Mosques, he added, and newopenings would be available with any cancellations.