The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has completed preparations to increase the capacity of Masjid Al Haram to receive 70,000 Umrah pilgrims from Wednesday.

The Presidency following the directions of the Hajj Ministry is increasing the daily capacity from 60,000 to 70,000 Pilgrims.

“The General Presidency has completed all preparations to receive pilgrims to raise the capacity to 70 thousand pilgrims daily,” said Hani bin Hosni Haidar, the presidency’s official spokesman.

The Presidency has implemented precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by deploying state-of-the-art equipment. Including the deployment of thermal cameras and optical sorting operations. Support for sterilization work with 11 robots that work with artificial intelligence, 20 Biocare devices for sterilization using dry steam. 20 sterilization devices using the cold mist feature, 500 sterilization pumps, in addition to 500 electronic soaps. 250 fans are also installed in the courtyards of the Mosque to reduce the heat and soften the atmosphere.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that Permits are available on the Tawakalana and Eatmarna Applications. Intending Pilgrims above the ages of 12 who have received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine or have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months can apply for Permits for Umrah, prayers in the Rawdah Al Shareefah and Ziyarah.

The Kingdom has also begun to receive Pilgrims from outside the Kingdom from Muharram 1st, 1443. The Ministry of Tourism also announced earlier that it is possible for Tourist Visa holders to perform Umrah. (ILKHA)