Saudi Arabia allows women to perform Hajj without male guardian

Saudi Arabia has allowed women to register for the annual Hajj pilgrimage without a male guardian.

“Those wishing to perform Hajj will have to register individually. Women can register without a mahram (male guardian) along with other women,” said the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

The ministry added that registration will remain open till 23 June 2021 for people aged 18 to 65 with no chronic illnesses and vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Furthermore, the registration will only be available for citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia who have not performed Hajj in the last five years. The Kingdom has made it clear that no foreigner will be allowed to enter the country for the annual ritual for a second straight year.

It is pertinent to mention that the number of pilgrims this year will be limited to 60,000 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hajj Packages

The ministry has approved three packages this year, including Basic, Mid and Premium. The costs for the three approved packages are SR16,560.50 ($4,426), SR14,381.95, and SR12,113.95. Moreover, Value Added Tax (VAT) will be added to the price of each package.

According to the ministry, the people will be bussed to the holy sites with a maximum of 20 people per vehicle.

They will be provided with three daily meals in Mina and two meals (breakfast and lunch) in Arafat while dinner will be supplied in Muzdalifah. The ministry has prohibited pilgrims from bringing their own food with them from outside Makkah.

Everyone applying for Hajj, including women will go through five stages, which includes prospective pilgrim reviewing and acknowledging health information and providing personal details based on official papers.

The system will verify the provided information and applicant’s eligibility for Hajj and once the application is accepted, the applicant will be given a registration number.

Once the applicant’s COVID-19 status is confirmed (whether vaccinated or immune after recovery), a text message will be sent with payment details.

Read more: Saudi Arabia restricts Hajj 2021 to citizens and residents.

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