Interior Ministry Official Source: Suspension of Umrah Temporarily for Citizens, Residents in the Kingdom

Riyadh, March 04, 2020, SPA -- An official source of the Ministry of Interior has stated that based on the keenness of the Kingdom’s government to support global efforts and international organizations especially the World Health Organization (WHO) to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), as an extension of its decision to suspend entry for the purposes of Umrah and visit of the Prophet’s Mosque temporarily from outside the Kingdom, its decision to suspend entry of tourist visas to people from countries where the spread of the novel coronavirus is dangerous, the suspension of the use of national identity cards for Saudi and GCC's citizens to and from the Kingdom, and based on the recommendation of the committee concerned to follow up the developments of the situation of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), it was decided to suspend Umrah temporarily for citizens and residents in the Kingdom, provided that this decision is reviewed continuously and the implementation of it stops whenever the reasons that called for it are negated. This preventive decision is among precautionary measures that the Kingdom’s government has consistently taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic and prevent its access to the Two Holy Mosques, which are witnessing a permanent and intense flow of human crowds, which makes the issue of securing these crowds of utmost importance. It also comes in line with the precautionary measures taken by Saudi authorities to prevent the spread of the virus in the Kingdom and to complement the efforts that have been taken, aiming at providing maximum protection for the safety of citizens and residents. --SPA