Saudi Ministry Says Pilgrims Must Be Vaccinated to Perform this Year’s Hajj

A women prays at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (AFP)
A women prays at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (AFP)
TT

Saudi Ministry Says Pilgrims Must Be Vaccinated to Perform this Year’s Hajj

A women prays at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (AFP)
A women prays at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (AFP)

The Saudi Ministry of Health announced that Muslims who want to perform the annual hajj pilgrimage this year will need to prove that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The government said it will consider coronavirus vaccination as “the main condition for participation” in the pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah that all Muslims who can are obliged to make once in their lives.

The statement did not specify whether the Hajj, which traditionally draws some 2 million Muslims from across the world, would again exclude pilgrims from outside the Kingdom to prevent contagion.

Last year, Saudi officials permitted only a very limited number of pilgrims already within the Kingdom to perform the Hajj amid the surging pandemic.

The five-day pilgrimage starts this year at the end of July.



UAE Delegation Meets French Officials to Strengthen Cooperation

Photo by WAM
Photo by WAM
TT

UAE Delegation Meets French Officials to Strengthen Cooperation

Photo by WAM
Photo by WAM

A high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates, led by the General Secretariat of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organizations Committee (NAMLCFTC), visited Paris to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the UAE and France in combating financial and organised crimes and strengthening international economic security, state news agency WAM reported.

The mission aimed to present the UAE’s National Strategy 2024–2027 in combating financial crimes, reflecting the UAE’s proactive efforts to strengthen international partnerships and exchange expertise in this field. The visit highlights the UAE’s commitment to activating effective communication channels to reduce financial crimes in alignment with its strategic goals and global AML/CFT standards.

Hamid Saif AlZaabi, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat and Vice Chairman of NAMLCFTC, emphasized the importance of enhancing international cooperation in tackling financial crime, stating, “France is one of the UAE’s largest trade partners, and likewise, the UAE is France’s primary trade partner in the region. This necessitates strengthening our partnership to address illicit global financial flows. This visit is part of our commitment to and belief in the importance of fostering international cooperation and exchanging expertise.

"Discussions focused on enhancing partnerships across various areas and with several partners, including the Ministries of Treasury, Justice, and Interior, the Financial Intelligence Unit, and others. We look forward to continuing our work with French partners, especially on priority issues such as global organised crime, combating drug trafficking, and mitigating shared risks between our countries.”

According to WAM, Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, UAE Ambassador to the French Republic, commended the close bilateral relations between the UAE and the French Republic, saying: “This visit marks a significant milestone to enhance the strategic and enduring partnership between the UAE and France, rooted in close cooperation and our shared commitment to global economic security and the fight against international financial crime. Through strengthened collaboration and the exchange of expertise, we aim to advance international efforts to confront financial security challenges.”

He added: “The delegation, led by the General Secretariat of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Illegal Organizations, discussed the comprehensive approach adopted by the UAE in addressing financial crimes. Furthermore, the delegation participated in technical discussions on key priority issues with our French partners. We look forward to further deepening sustainable cooperation between the UAE and France, to reinforce regional and global frameworks to combat illicit financial activities.”