27 Feb 2020: Saudi Arabia has placed a temporary ban on Umrah pilgrims in an attempt to ensure public safety by preventing the spread of the corona-virus.

It is one of the several precautionary measures announced early on Thursday as health authorities in the Kingdom closely monitor the spread of the virus. Tourist-visa holders from countries judged to pose a particularly high risk of spreading the virus will also be denied entry. From Pakistan Visitor Visa holder to Saudi and people wanting to get visa on arrival for Umrah will also not be allowed. Circular from Emirates Airlines, on the leading airlines for Umrah Zaireen from Pakistan is provided below.

Restriction on GCC Countries

In addition, Saudi nationals and citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council nations will not be able to use a national identity card to travel to and from the Kingdom for the time being. Exceptions to this shall be granted to Saudis returning home, and citizens of GCC countries who are in the Kingdom and want to return to their home countries, provided that they left or entered the Kingdom using a national identity card.

Health authorities at entry points will verify which countries travelers visited before arriving in Saudi Arabia and apply all necessary precautionary measures.

How long will the current situation last?

Saudi officials stressed that the restrictions are temporary and will be continuously reviewed by the health authorities. They reiterated the Kingdom’s support for and implementation of international efforts to limit the spread of the virus, and the Foreign Ministry urged citizens not to travel to the countries worst affected by the corona-virus.

Read More [Questions Regarding Hajj in 2020 and Umrah 2020]: How will Hajj 2020 and the rest of Umrah Season 2019 – 2020 be impacted by Corona Virus?

Nearly 7 million Umrah pilgrims visit the Kingdom each year, the majority of whom arrive at airports in Jeddah and Madinah.

Detection of Corona-Virus’s in Saudi Arabia

Earlier, it emerged that seven Saudis are among the latest corona-virus cases in Bahrain and Kuwait. The Bahraini Ministry of Health on Wednesday said six Saudi women has tested positive for the virus.

They had arrived at Bahrain International Airport on a flight from Iran. The total number of confirmed cases in the country stands at 26. Studies at schools and universities have been suspended for two weeks in an effort to limit the spread of the virus.

Kuwait announced the first case of a Saudi citizen infected by the virus. The man, who had arrived in the country from the Iranian city of Mashhad, has been placed in quarantine for 14 days. There have been 26 confirmed cases of the virus to date in Kuwait.

I have already booked packages from Ibadat.pk

If you have already booked packages from us and do not have a flight in the upcoming week, then you are requested to wait till further notice. However if you have a flight over the next two days, our help desk will assist you in reevaluating your options after discussing with the Umrah Organizer who booked your package. At Ibadat.pk we are here to assist you in any way possible.

What will happen to Umrah Group Departures / Umrah Packages with flights Listed on Ibadat.pk ?

Packages with flights / group packages  listed the platform may still go ahead as schedule – there will be more clarity in a couple of days regarding the situation. However it is likely that packages with flight that are departing before 15 March might get cancelled. However packages / groups with departure after 19 March may still move ahead as schedule. You can register your interest for them but we will only be able to confirm bookings on them after there is more clarity – hopefully in a couple of days.

What about Umrah Packages without flights listed on Ibadat.pk ?

You can register your interest for Umrah packages without flights available on our platform. However we will not confirm booking for theses packages or flights until there is more clarity. Even if you are booking umrah packages with Organizers we work with, we advice you not to confirm or make payments until there is more clarity. We hope the situation is temporary.

DUA for protection from Deadly Diseases

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبَرَصِ، وَالْجُنُونِ، وَالْجُذَامِ، وَمِنْ سَيِّئِ الأَسْقَامِ

ALLAHUMMA INNI AUDHUBIKA MINAL BARSI, WAL JUNOONI, WALJUZAAMI, WA SAYYIL ASQAAM

Oh ALLAH I seek Your refuge from leprosy, Insanity, mutilation and from all serious illness.

May Allah Protect us all!