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Saudi Arabia Limits Hajj and Dubai Welcomes Tourists

News The coronavirus pandemic has ruined many plans this year, and the annual Hajj pilgrimage is no exception. Every year, hotels in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, welcome Muslim guests from all over the world who come to perform the Haj. However, this year is different. For the first time in the modern history of Saudi Arabia, the country doesn’t allow Muslim pilgrims outside the kingdom to enter it.

To control the spread of the virus, it was decided to limit the number of pilgrims this year. Saudi Arabia’s hajj ministry announced that only people who are already in the country will be allowed to perform the ritual. Without a doubt, this is a heavy burden for Mecca hotels, many of which are targeted at pilgrims. In 2019, as many as 2.5 million pilgrims visited the holy city. This year, the hajj will start at the end of July.

Every Muslim is obliged to perform the hajj at least once in their lifetime. The religious sites become very crowded at this time of the year, and this could potentially infect millions of people. That is why Saudi Arabia has made a decision to limit the number of visitors. Moreover, the country currently has a growing number of COVID-19 cases – more than 160 thousand, which is the highest result in the Gulf region.

Meantime, a neighboring country of Saudi Arabia – the United Arab Emirates – is ready to reopen its borders and welcome international guests. The country has recently revised its air travel protocols and plans to accept both business and leisure guests starting from July 7. During the past weeks, the country was providing passengers with an opportunity to travel through Dubai. At the moment, there are international flights that connect Dubai to 40 cities. With the adoption of the new safety standards, the country plans to offer new destinations in the nearest future.

To let people know that the emirate is ready to accept tourists and Dubai hotels are waiting for new guests, the UAE launched a new advertising program. The Emirates provides free safety kits for both employees and customers. These kits contain masks, hand sanitizers, gloves, and antibacterial wipes. If you want to travel to Dubai this summer, take a look at the travel restrictions published on the official website. According to the rules, all visitors to Dubai must have international insurance that covers Covid-19 illness for the duration of the stay.

27.06.2020

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