Saudi Arabia Temporarily Suspends Entry for Umrah Pilgrimage, Tourism

Gulf

February 27th, 6:52am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Kuwaitis coming back from Iran wait at Sheikh Saad Airport in Kuwait City, on February 22, 2020, before being taken to a hospital to be tested for coronavirus. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)

Saudi Arabia on Thursday suspended visas for visits to Islam's holiest sites for the "umrah" pilgrimage, as part of measures to stop the spread of the noval coronavirus. "The Kingdom's government has decided to take the following precautions: suspending entry to the Kingdom for the purpose of umrah and visit to the Prophet's mosque temporarily," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "Suspending entry into the Kingdom with tourist visas for those coming from countries, in which the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) is a danger,” it said. Saudi Arabia has had no cases of the coronavirus but it has been spreading in some neighboring countries. The virus first appeared in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December. “Saudi Arabia renews its support for all international measures to limit the spread of this virus, and urges its citizens to exercise caution before traveling to countries experiencing coronavirus outbreaks,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in its statement.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2152106/saudi-arabia-temporarily-suspends-entry-umrah-pilgrimage-tourism