![Saudis and foreign residents circumambulate the Kaaba (Tawaf), as part of the Umrah pilgrimage, in the Grand Mosque complex in the holy city of Makkah, on October 4, 2020 [Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umra/AFP via Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1228878011-scaled-e1601812382721.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Saudi Arabia will organise the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah this year, but under special conditions to guard against the spread of COVID-19, state TV reported yesterday.
“The mechanism and conditions for holding the Hajj this year will be announced later,” it said, citing the Ministry of Hajj and Pilgrimage.
In 2020, Saudi Arabia allowed only 10,000 pilgrims to perform Hajj, compared to about 2.5 million people who performed the ritual in 2019.
Authorities have previously conditioned the completion of lesser pilgrimage , Umrah, on people being immunised against COVID-19.