Free pilgrimage to Mecca for Omanis who can't afford it

The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam and should be performed by devout Muslims at least once in a lifetime, health permitting. This year's pilgrimage will take place between 26 June and 1 July. In 2022, 899,000 pilgrims were registered, of which 779,919 attended from outside the Saudi Kingdom via various ports. This figure was severely reduced during COVID, when Saudi Arabia allowed only 60,000 worshippers to enter the event, taking into consideration the imposed measures of social distancing and security measures.  This year, the limitation of people imposed during the pandemic will be lifted.

The cost of the pilgrimage is between 1,600 rials and 5,000 Saudi rials per person, depending on the type of package chosen. For those who receive a pension of 600 rials per month, paying this amount of money is beyond their means. The Omani Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs takes into account those people who do not have sufficient financial capabilities to be able to take part in this pilgrimage because they do not have a stable salary, such as orphans, unmarried women, families of prisoners, the elderly or the disabled. Therefore, the Ministry will pay in full for 306,000 nationals to perform the Hajj this year.

Applications were opened in January for those who have residency in Saudi Arabia and priority will be given to those who have not been able to perform the Hajj in the past and who have a valid and up-to-date COVID vaccination. For those who do not have Saudi residency status, the dates will depend on the country of residence.

The Omani government has established a transparent and fair process for the selection of pilgrims who will qualify for the free pilgrimage. Details on application criteria and procedures are expected to be announced in the near future. All interested Omani citizens are encouraged to watch out for further updates and to comply with the set requirements.

Hajj is a time of devotion, introspection and spiritual connection that is fundamental for those practising Islam. This expansion in eligibility for free Hajj will open up new opportunities for the Muslim community in Oman. This opportunity will empower those less privileged to perform one of the fundamental pillars of Islam, and thanks to the Omani Executive, strengthen the cultural bridge between Saudi Arabia and Oman.