Umrah: Expectations, anxiety as Saudi Arabia opens for Umrah after COVID-19 ban

By Abbas Jimoh, Abdullateef Aliyu & Faruk Shuaibu   Saudi Arabia for the second year running (2020 and 2021) suspended the annual Hajj pilgrimage and Umrah (lesser hajj) for international pilgrims due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The kingdom, however, gave some lifeline for the umrah resumption, which is a voluntary pilgrimage that Muslims can perform […]

By Abbas Jimoh, Abdullateef Aliyu & Faruk Shuaibu

 

Saudi Arabia for the second year running (2020 and 2021) suspended the annual Hajj pilgrimage and Umrah (lesser hajj) for international pilgrims due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The kingdom, however, gave some lifeline for the umrah resumption, which is a voluntary pilgrimage that Muslims can perform at any time of the year.

This year’s Hajj received only 60,000 people from within Saudi Arabia’s borders due the COVID-19 pandemic, recording a total 58,518 pilgrims of 32,816 male and 25,702 females.

The 2020 Hajj was limited to only 10,000 pilgrims, also within Saudi Arabia’s borders.

The umrah was first suspended in February 2020, in the wake of the first wave of the pandemic.

However, six months later, in October 2020, the Saudi Arabia authorities reopened the Islamic holy sites for umrah but was limited to Saudis and foreigners residing in the kingdom who were allowed to perform rituals in the Grand Mosque with a capacity of 30 per cent or only 6,000 people per day.

A fortnight ago, the Saudi Arabia authority announced the resumption of Umrah service for pilgrims worldwide from 1st Muharram 1443 (August 10, 2021), following a successful Hajj season.

“The Grand Mosque is ready to receive pilgrims and worshippers for Umrah,” the deputy head of the affairs of the Grand Mosque, Saad bin Muhammad al-Muhaimid, said.

Meanwhile, Umrah for Saudi Arabia citizens and residents in the kingdom resumed from July 25, after its suspension in the first week of Dhul Hijjah to make preparation for Hajj which began on July 17.

Following the resumption of the Hajj, especially Umrah exercises, operators are optimistic about slight recovery and are warming up for the Umrah season.

Operators who spoke with one of our correspondents, said they are prepared and enthusiastic about the restart of activities in the Umrah sub-sector after missing two consecutive Hajj operations due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

The Secretary General, Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON), Alhaji Qosim Alabi, told our correspondent that all operators are hopeful with the commencement of Umrah.

“Umrah has commenced with high hope from tour operators and pilgrims,” he said.

He listed the conditions for performing Umrah to include that: Pilgrims should be 18 years and above; Pilgrims must have received full dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

He added, “No need for quarantine once this is done. The pilgrims must however do PCR test which must be negative before departing Nigeria.”

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Al-Qibla International Services, Alhaji Abdulmojeed Abdulfatah, also confirmed that Umrah operators have linked up with their agents in Saudi Arabia as more people indicate interest in performing Umrah.

He said, “Alhamdulillahi (praise be to Allah), Umrah has commenced and as at last week, five Nigerian pilgrims are there. And many more countries are probably getting hooked up with their various agents in Saudi Arabia and very soon, we would see more people going for Umrah.

“The conditions are the same. The COVID-19 requirement including the PCR test must be met. There is no age limit again unlike what obtained last year once you are above 18. Those that cannot go now are those from 1 to 18. Anything above that can go for Umrah.”

Daily Trust on Sunday, however, reports that operators are contending with challenges of air connectivity to Saudi Arabia following restrictions placed on some airlines from entering the Kingdom.

Our correspondent learnt that only two Airlines -Qatar Airways and Rwand Air – fly to Saudi Arabia at the moment.

With limited flight operations, it implies that prospective Umrah pilgrims might scramble for the two airlines to connect to Saudi Arabia.

Going through Qatar Airways, pilgrims would first travel to Doha, for about six hours before connecting another flight from Doha to Saudi Arabia which is another eight hours.

Similarly, pilgrims would go through Kigali, the Rwandan capital, to connect Saudi Arabia, though this is considered the shortest route in the midst of the present limited connectivity option.

“This is poses serious challenge as there is no way the two airlines can take care of the capacity of Umrah volume from Nigeria. The case will be worst if the ban remains in force till the month of Ramadan and Hajj period,” Abdulfatah added.

On his part, the Managing Director of Comerel Travels Nigeria, Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq Muhammad, said that it is heartening that the season is opened, alhamdulillahi.

“We hope more Nigerian companies would be part of the Umrah operation after the long cessation of activities, no thanks to COVID-19 and its effect on businesses around the world. Nigerian companies can achieve a lot here, because Nigeria, by Allah’s grace, is not among the countries where there are serious effects of the COVID and the Saudi Arabia authority knows that.

“Though the Delta variant is also here, alhamdulillah the authorities are doing everything to control it and with a good percentage of the citizens haven received their first and second dosage of the vaccines, which is a qualification for Umrah, many people are eager and Nigeria would be able to participate.

“So, what we expect is the urge in people to want to go for Umrah and to approach the travel agencies licensed by NAHCON to organise very good packages for them. What Nigerian companies and tour operators should also know is that we have to adapt to what COVID has brought to the industry. This industry is changed forever and we have to adapt to it, to arrange our packages in line with the COVID-19 protocols,” Muhammad said.

…NAHCON constitutes umrah standing committee

The Chairman National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, on August 25 established a Standing Committee on Umrah at the NAHCON headquarters Abuja.

The 15-man committee is chaired by NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Inspectorate and Licensing, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa.

The Head Public Affairs of NAHCON, Fatima Sanda Usara, said that the Standing Committee’s mandate includes constant evaluation of quality service delivery to pilgrims, proposing policy changes to be in tune with existing realities, superintending on all Umrah related matters and other incidental issues.

While inaugurating the committee, the chairman explained that the action was necessary for the commission to be atop Umrah monitoring in the interest of the pilgrims.

The NAHCON boss expressed confidence in the competence of the committee’s chairman and the selected members in delivering on the assignment.

In his acceptance speech after the inauguration, Alhaji Hardawa appreciated the commission’s chairman for the confidence reposed in them to discharge this task judiciously.

He observed that Umrah is an important focal duty of the industry which demands high level of obligation from the commission.

The commissioner commended the former board for bringing sanity to Umrah operations which he observed used to be fraught with dubious activities that short-changed intending pilgrims for maximum profit.

He reaffirmed commitment to not only consolidate on that board’s achievement but also build from where they left.

Alhaji Hardawa said that the committee will always be in place to ensure that pilgrims are maximally protected, by assessing ongoing Umrah operations, address issues as they arise and make proposal to management on policy adjustment that will capture current and emerging trend.

He also called on committee members to remain pro-active, gather information on developing trends and use all their experiences in ensuring that Umrah activities do not degenerate.

Efforts to speak with intending pilgrims were not successful as there were no known tour operators that has commenced arrangement for Umrah pilgrimage.

Also, some of the tour operators said they were yet to get intending pilgrims, also noting that the intending customers may not want to speak publicly on the matter.

Responding to the reasons for the lull in Umrah pilgrimage in the country, Comerel Travels -Nigeria MD, Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq Muhammad, told Daily Trust Saturday that this may be due to the ‘new normal’ in the global travel or tourism industry, which the pilgrimage to the Holy land was not an exception.

According to him, unlike the Hajj exercise, the NAHCON has less to do on Umrah as it is the major responsibility of tour operators to make arrangements with licensed agents and service providers in Saudi Arabia to airlift and ensure other arrangements for their clients as intending pilgrims to the hold land.