For the first time, Saudi Arabia considers cancelling Haj

Saudi Arabia’s authorities are considering cancelling the Haj season for the first time since the establishment of the Kingdom in 1932, after the number of coronavirus infections exceeded 100,000, a senior official in the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah told the British newspaper Financial Times.

“The case has been carefully studied and various scenarios are being considered. A formal decision will be taken within a week,” the official said. The pilgrimage, which is scheduled for late July this year, is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, with more than two million pilgrims visiting the Kingdom to perform Islamic rituals.
Saudi Arabia could consider drastically cutting the number of pilgrims arriving for Haj.
In addition to its importance in Islam, the pilgrimage is also a major source of foreign revenue for Riyadh.
“Official data show Haj and the lesser, year-round Umrah pilgrimage earn the Kingdom about $12 billion a year,” Reuters reported.