RIYADH: Saudi authorities have banned people from entering Riaz al-Jannah without permission during the Hajj.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs said that the decision was taken by Saudi officials to avoid the Corona SOPs and heavy rush.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has instructed that pilgrims arriving in Madinah should not go to Riaz ul Jannah without Saudi permission.
Saudi officials will impose heavy fines on those who enter Riaz ul Jannah without permission.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has clarified that permission is not required to perform prayers in other parts of the Holy Haram.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority had issued a new travel advisory for Hajj 2022.
According to the new travel advisory, visitors must get the corona vaccine approved by the Saudi Ministry of Health. Pilgrims will have to show a negative corona test 48 hours in advance
Saudi officials say the airlines will be severely fined for violating the policy guideline, while action will also be taken for violating flight slots during the Hajj operation.
It should be noted that this year, people over the age of 65 are already banned from performing Hajj.
Earlier, Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor had, giving a tentative figure, informed that Hajj may cost Rs700,000 to Rs1 million this year.
Addressing a press conference here in the ministry, he said due to increase in the cost of services and taxes by the Saudi government, an increment would be expected in the Hajj expenses. Mufti said the Saudi Hajj ministry as per normal routine used to provide Hajj guidelines and expenditures in advance but due to COVID-19, the details of hajj expenses were being awaited. In this context, the ministry’s directorate general in Jeddah was in constantly contact with his Saudi counterpart to settle down the issues of mutual interests as soon as possible, he added.
He said the Saudi Hajj ministry had given the deadline of May 16, to complete all the codal formalities for smooth sailing of Hajj 2022. Keeping in view the time constraints and official hiccups, the ministry had decided to ask the aspirant pilgrims to submit their applications in designated branches of the schedule banks with token money of Rs50, 000, he added.
