Saudi Arabia's Hajj selection to prioritise non-citizens and health workers

This year's pilgrims will be made up of 70 per cent residents and 30 per cent citizens, with health workers being given priority

Men wearing protective face masks stand as they work on raising the Kiswa, a silk cloth covering the Holy Kaaba, before the annual pilgrimage season, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS

A security man checks the temperature of a worker as they work on raising the Kiswa, a silk cloth covering the Holy Kaaba, before the annual pilgrimage season, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS

Workers wearing protective face masks work on raising the Kiswa, a silk cloth covering the Holy Kaaba, before the annual pilgrimage season, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS

The President of the Haramain Sheikh Abdul Rehman Al Sudais inspects the King Abdulaziz Gate at the Grand Mosque. SPA

Saudi officials and workers pose for a photo after inspections ahead of Hajj. SPA

The King Abdulaziz Gate at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. SPA

The Minister of Hajj and Umrah inspects the equipment prepared for the service of pilgrims this year

the Minister of Hajj and Umrah inspects the equipment prepared for the service of pilgrims this year

The Minister of Hajj and Umrah inspects the equipment prepared for the service of pilgrims this year

A few worshippers performing the fajr prayer at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Saudi Arabia has announced it will hold a "very limited" Hajj this year. AFP

Saudi Arabia's authorities said only a limited number of people, who are already in Saudi Arabia, will be able to perform the Hajj amid a spike of cases and deaths in the kingdom. AFP

Arab countries have expressed their support for Saudi Arabia's decision to ban pilgrims from abroad attending the Hajj pilgrimage this year to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. AFP

Arafat mountain in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah. Egypt, home of Al Azhar, one of the Muslim world’s main centres of learning, quickly came out in support of the decision. AFP

Egyptan Religious Affairs Minister Mukhtar Jumah described the downsizing as “practical” and “conforming with jurisprudence regarding the pandemic”. AFP

Hundreds of thousands usually perform Hajj every year. AFP

Bahraini Justice and Islamic Affairs Minister Khaled Bin Khalifa said the ban “conforms with the core values of Islam” and that Bahrain appreciates what he described as Saudi Arabia’s quest to save lives. AFP

The Emirates Hajj Affairs Office said Saudi Arabia's move “preserves the health of the people and their lives, which is one of the main purposes of our honoured religion”. AFP

Part of the Grand Mosque complex in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah. AFP

Saudi Arabia has announced that this year's Hajj pilgrims will comprise 70 per cent residents and 30 per cent citizens, with health workers being given priority.

International attendance to the pilgrimage has been restricted because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said ensuring health standards would be the main factor behind the selection process, with citizen pilgrims being strictly chosen from healthcare workers and security personnel who have already fully recovered from Covid-19.

They will be selected from a recovery database and as a "token of appreciation for their role in providing care for our society as it fought the pandemic", Saudi Press Agency reported.

The ministry said it would also prioritise healthy, non-Saudi Arabian residents of the country between the ages of 20 and 50, to be allowed to take part after testing them for the virus. They will be asked to quarantine for an unspecified period of time before and after performing Hajj.

Those eligible, can register at https://www.haj.gov.sa between July 6 and July 10.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia announced a ban on impromptu gatherings and meetings during the Hajj to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The authorities decided in June to limit the number of pilgrims to about 1,000. It is the first time in the modern era that those overseas are unable to travel to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.

Touching the Kaaba will also be prohibited this year, and pilgrims will have to keep a minimum distance of one and a half metres from one another during the rituals, including mass prayers and while performing tawaf (walk around the Kaaba seven times).

The ministry said special plans, including healthcare services and segmentation, have been put in place this year.