Good News For 2023 Haj Pilgrims: Saudi Arabia Removes Age And Number Restrictions For 2023 Haj Season

PK DeskJanuary 10, 2023Last Updated: January 10, 2023

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The Saudi Arabian ministry of Haj and Umrah has announced that the country will not impose any restrictions, including age limits, for the 2023 Haj season.

In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 2.6 million people participated in the Haj. In order to prevent the spread of the virus, the kingdom only allowed a limited number of residents to participate in the Haj in 2020 and 2021.

However, in 2022, the kingdom welcomed back one million foreign pilgrims. The lifting of restrictions for the 2023 season means that the kingdom will be able to accommodate a similar number of pilgrims as it did before the pandemic.

In 2022, access to the Haj was restricted to pilgrims aged 18 to 65 who had been fully vaccinated or immunized against COVID-19 and did not have chronic diseases. The Haj season is expected to begin on June 26, 2023.

The kingdom has invested billions of dollars in making the Haj, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, more secure.

An economic reform plan led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aims to increase the capacity for the Umrah and Haj to 30 million pilgrims annually and generate 50 billion riyals ($13.32 billion) in revenues by 2030. The Haj is a significant source of income for the government, coming from worshippers’ lodging, transport, fees, and gifts.