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Muslim pilgrims praying around the Kaaba in Mecca (archive image)
Photo: Abdel Ghani Bashir / AFP
It is an annual mass event - and a must for many believers: Saudi Arabia is again allowing a million people for the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca this summer.
While in the past two years only pilgrims from the kingdom were allowed to go to Mecca for the Hajj due to the corona pandemic, Muslims from abroad can now travel again.
This was announced by the Saudi Hajj Ministry.
However, only believers under the age of 65 who have been vaccinated against Corona are admitted.
Pilgrimage starts in July
The pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, which is holy to Muslims, begins in early July this year.
Last year, Saudi Arabia only allowed around 60,000 people for fear of the virus spreading.
Before the corona pandemic, around two million pilgrims took part every year.
In 2019, around 2.5 million Muslims from all over the world made a pilgrimage to Mecca.
The five-day hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Every devout Muslim who is in good health and can afford it is required to participate in pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
Many of them save years for the sometimes long journey.
The pilgrimage can cost a pilgrim several thousand dollars.
It is also an important economic factor for Saudi Arabia.
flg/dpa/AFP