Saudi Arabia allows women to perform Hajj and Umrah without a mahram (blood relative) or male guardian. The decision ends the decade-long restriction for women to have a male guardian to perform Hajj and Umrah.
The decision was announced by Saudi Minister for Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah in a press conference, reported Arab News. Minister added that people with any visa can perform Hajj and Umrah and visit any city in the country. “There is not any fixed quota of the Umrah pilgrims,” he added. Minister also mentioned the efforts made by the kingdom regarding the introduction and use of modern technologies and the digitization of the services for those who wish to visit the Two Grand Mosques in Saudi Arabia.
The decision has been made perhaps to revive the Hajj, Umrah, and tourism industry in the country. Saudi Arabia saw a decline in the number of pilgrims visiting the country due to COVID-19 restrictions. The government is perhaps seeking to revive religious and recreational tourism in the country. The decision will also benefit the women who do not have any male guardian but wish to visit the two holy Grand Mosques for Hajj and Umrah.
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Hajj and Umrah Services Adviser Ahmed Saleh Halabi says women are permitted to be accompanied by “trustworthy women or security company to perform Hajj or Umrah. This is the view of the Maliki and Shafi’i scholars.”
“The supervisor of fatwa at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Egypt, Abbas Shoman, declared last March that a woman is allowed to perform Hajj and Umrah without an accompanying mahram,” said Halabi.
Former adviser to the Minister of Hajj writer Faten Ibrahim Hussein says that pilgrims are provided with the best facilities in line with Vision 2030.
“Allowing women to perform Umrah without the condition of a mahram makes life easier for them because many have difficult social conditions and may not find a mahram, or it may cost them a lot, while they are eager to perform Umrah,” said Hussein.