Iraqis perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia after 18-month hiatus

By Ali Jawad

BAGHDAD (AA) – Iraqis can perform the Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia after an 18-month suspension, according to the Iraqi authorities on Monday.

The Hajj and Umrah Authority said in a statement that flights will be available for Iraqi pilgrims once they undergo the necessary “health procedures and preventive measures related to the coronavirus pandemic in fulfilment of the controls and conditions relied upon by Saudi authorities”.

It said the first batch of 150 pilgrims flew to the Saudi city of Madinah earlier Monday aboard an Iraqi Airways flight.

Last month, Saudi Arabia re-opened the Muslim holy sites for the Umrah pilgrimage after suspension due to the coronavirus outbreak.

*Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar in Ankara