Tue 16 November 2021:
Saudi Arabia stated on Sunday that foreign pilgrims can now use approved apps to apply for permits to do Umrah and pray at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, as well as to visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.
The Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority “SDAIA” and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah collaborated on the newest move.
Pilgrims visiting from outside the Kingdom can now apply for permits for Umrah and prayer in the Grand Mosque, as well as for visiting the Prophet’s Mosque through the “Eatmarna & Tawakkalna” online applications.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stressed that the service will be effective through Eatmarna and Tawakkalna just after registering on the Saudi “Quddum” platform.
According to the ministry, pilgrims applying for the permits must first register on the Quddum platform. Travellers have been advised to download both Eatmarna and Tawakkalna apps on their mobile phones before arriving in Saudi Arabia.
Last month, the Kingdom eased coronavirus precautionary measures and allowed pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque at full capacity.
While social distancing measures were lifted, pilgrims were still required to wear face masks and make reservations to perform Umrah and prayers through the Tawakkalna and Eatmarna applications, in order to verify their immunity status at the entrances of the two holy mosques, according to The National.
In July, only around 60,000 inoculated residents were allowed to take part in a vastly scaled-down form of the Haj.
On October 16, the Saudi interior ministry announced the easing of restrictions across the country, including those related to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina.
The next day, the Grand Mosque operated at full capacity, with worshippers praying shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time since the pandemic began.
Saudi Arabia announced in August it would begin accepting vaccinated foreigners wishing to undertake the Umrah pilgrimage.
The Covid-19 pandemic hugely disrupted both Muslim pilgrimages, which are usually key revenue earners for the kingdom that rake in a combined $12 billion annually.
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