28 June 2020 – The Government of Saudi Arabia has announced that this year's hajj will proceed with a limited number of pilgrims of different nationalities residing within the country. 

This decision was made based on a risk assessment and analysis of different scenarios in line with WHO guidelines for mass gatherings in the context of COVID-19 to protect the safety of the pilgrims and minimize the risk of transmission inside the country and beyond. Pilgrims will be selected based on the hajj quota system according to nationality and additional readiness measures are being put in place to ensure any potential cases can be quickly detected and responded to before, during, and after hajj.

In parallel, Saudi Arabia is undergoing lifting of restrictions while enhancing overall national public health measures and the functionality of the health system to respond to the ongoing pandemic.

The World Health Organization welcomes the decision of Saudi Arabia to protect pilgrims’ safety and promote regional and global health security