Pilgrims must commit to producing IDs at checkpoints
The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Haj and Umrah clarified that women who do not wish to upload their photos on smart cards provided to pilgrims do not have to do so, but they must commit to producing their IDs at checkpoints.
The kingdom had earlier said only 60,000 residents would be allowed to perform Haj this year.
Pilgrims without smart cards and documented official permits will not be allowed to perform Haj, officials warned.
The permit will be matched to the smart card and the pilgrim’s ID card.
The Haj smart card system will be linked via a QR code to pilgrims’ smartphones, which they can use for various purposes such as access to camps, transport, hotels, cashless payment terminals and ATMs.
Robots will provide pilgrims with fatwas (edicts), guidance, as well as the electronic Quran, and the movement of pilgrims will be linked to the computer.
Timings for all Haj rituals will be set accurately for every pilgrim from their arrival in Saudi Arabia until they return home safely.
In May, Saudi Arabia announced the resumption of the Haj this year for both Saudi and foreign pilgrims through the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah. The ministry also said that stringent security and regulatory measures would be in place to ensure the safety and health of pilgrims.
The Saudi authorities have stressed that they’re keen to enable Muslims around the world to perform the Haj rituals. However, the safety of pilgrims would take precedent.
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