Foreign Hajj pilgrims rejoice in Saudi Arabia after two-year COVID-19 absence
July 6, 2022, 6:49 pm

Foreign Hajj pilgrims rejoice in Saudi Arabia after two-year COVID-19 absence

The sighting of the moon marks the beginning of the Dhu al-Hijjah Islamic month in which the Hajj pilgrimage is performed followed by Eid al-Adha - Pic. Pixabay

It was only in April 2022 that Saudi Arabia, which banned pilgrims abroad in 2020 and 2021 as part of efforts to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic, announced that one million Muslims, including 850,000 from abroad, would be able to participate this year.

Hajj is usually one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, with about 2.5 million people taking part in 2019, before the pandemic started.

The following year, foreigners were blocked and the total number of worshipers was capped at 10,000 to stop the Hajj from turning into a global super-spreader.

That figure rose to 60,000 fully vaccinated Saudi citizens and residents in 2021.

Though the number is much higher this year, there are still some restrictions: participants must be Muslims aged under 65 who are fully vaccinated and can submit a negative COVID-19 PCR result from a test taken within 72 hours of travel.

Though the number is much higher this year, there are still some restrictions: participants must be Muslims aged under 65 who are fully vaccinated and can submit a negative COVID-19 PCR result from a test taken within 72 hours of travel.

The Hajj officially begins Wednesday (July 6), and Mecca is already overrun with worshipers who, are relieved to have finally reached their destination.

A 30-year-old Russian pilgrim who gave her name as Halima said she had been imagining her stay in Mecca for more than a decade.

Muslim pilgrims flock to holy Mecca for first post-pandemic Hajj

The Hajj costs at least $5,000 per person, and Halima said she shared her story with friends to drum up funds for both her and her father to come.

“Yesterday was the first time I saw the Kaaba,” she said, referring to the large black cubic structure at the center of the Grand Mosque. "It is my dream to be here, and now I am living it.”

levantnews-alarabiyaenglish

Migration bill: Germany eases path to permanent residency for migrants Dmitry Medvedev warns US against pressing for war crimes court

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”