Saudi Arabia Opens Hajj Registration for Applicants within the Kingdom

Pilgrims keeping social distance and wearing face masks, perform farewell Tawaf around the holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, after completing their extended Hajj, "Hajj Al Kabeer", during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, July 22, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
Pilgrims keeping social distance and wearing face masks, perform farewell Tawaf around the holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, after completing their extended Hajj, "Hajj Al Kabeer", during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, July 22, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
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Saudi Arabia Opens Hajj Registration for Applicants within the Kingdom

Pilgrims keeping social distance and wearing face masks, perform farewell Tawaf around the holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, after completing their extended Hajj, "Hajj Al Kabeer", during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, July 22, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
Pilgrims keeping social distance and wearing face masks, perform farewell Tawaf around the holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, after completing their extended Hajj, "Hajj Al Kabeer", during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, July 22, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Thursday the opening of early online registration for the Hajj 2023 season for pilgrims within the Kingdom through the Nusuk application.

This is part of the ministry’s efforts to facilitate the application procedures, upgrade the services’ quality, and enrich the religious and cultural experience of the pilgrims.

The ministry said in a press release on Thursday that there will be four categories of packages available for pilgrims. The economic package starts at 3,984 Saudi riyals ($1,060) and the most expensive package starts at 11,453 Saudi riyals ($3,042).

Pilgrims can choose to make one total payment or opt for three installments.

The ministry said that women will be able to perform Hajj without a mahram, or close male relative, to accompany them.

The minimum age for the online Hajj application is 12 years.

Priority will be given to pilgrims who have not performed Hajj before.

Pilgrims are also required to complete Covid-19 and influenza vaccines, in addition to having a valid Meningococcal ACWY vaccine certificate at least 10 days before arriving at the holy sites.

The ministry has urged pilgrims to only go through companies and institutions licensed by the Ministry for any Hajj-related services.

Registration for Hajj must be done by pilgrims themselves.



GCC Secretary-General Meets with Director of China Atomic Energy Authority

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
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GCC Secretary-General Meets with Director of China Atomic Energy Authority

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi met with Director of the China Atomic Energy Authority Shan Zhongde on the sidelines of the first GCC-China Forum on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in China.
During the meeting, discussions focused on avenues of cooperation between the GCC and China across various fields, including the peaceful use of nuclear energy, SPA reported.
The two sides underscored the importance of the forum and its associated workshops and lectures, emphasizing their potential to enhance cooperation in this field.
Albudaiwi stated that this meeting aligns with the outcomes of the final statement of the Riyadh GCC-China Summit for Cooperation and Development, aimed at strengthening the existing strategic partnership between the GCC and China, and expanding it towards new horizons in various political, economic, and cultural fields.