Saudi Arabia said on Monday that a small number of residents will be allowed to perform Hajj this year.
Saudi authorities wanted “to establish a ritual safe in a healthy manner”, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
People from various nationalities based in Saudi would be eligible to perform the Hajj, depending on health and safety precautions.
A statement from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said “very limited numbers” would be allowed to perform the pilgrimage, in line with “the teachings of Islam” and preserving the health of all.
It said the Hajj preparations would include requirements for disease prevention and social separation.
The country has recorded 161,005 cases and 1,307 deaths, but on Sunday lockdown orders were lifted.
People spent time at the seafront promenade in the port city of Jeddah as the country reopened, and flocked to hairdressers, barbers and shops across the kingdom.
Workers returned as offices, mosques, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and gyms reopened after more than three months of measures to curb the spread of the virus, including nightly lockdowns.
Roads in Jeddah, which had been eerily quiet for months, sprang to life from 6am, with people venturing out of their homes to shop.
As Saudi authorities made the announcement, the number of people infected with the coronavirus worldwide passed nine million, the latest figures from Johns Hopkins showed.
More than half of the 9,003,042 cases are in Europe and the US, with the latter recording more than 2.2 million cases.
Iran is the worst hit Middle East nation, with 207,525 reported cases and 9,742 deaths.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
THE SCORES
Ireland 125 all out
(20 overs; Stirling 72, Mustafa 4-18)
UAE 125 for 5
(17 overs, Mustafa 39, D’Silva 29, Usman 29)
UAE won by five wickets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Six things you need to know about UAE Women’s Special Olympics football team
Several girls started playing football at age four
They describe sport as their passion
The girls don’t dwell on their condition
They just say they may need to work a little harder than others
When not in training, they play football with their brothers and sisters
The girls want to inspire others to join the UAE Special Olympics teams
Pakistan v New Zealand Test series
Pakistan: Sarfraz (c), Hafeez, Imam, Azhar, Sohail, Shafiq, Azam, Saad, Yasir, Asif, Abbas, Hassan, Afridi, Ashraf, Hamza
New Zealand: Williamson (c), Blundell, Boult, De Grandhomme, Henry, Latham, Nicholls, Ajaz, Raval, Sodhi, Somerville, Southee, Taylor, Wagner
Umpires: Bruce Oxerford (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG); TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS); Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
Tickets and schedule: Entry is free for all spectators. Gates open at 9am. Play commences at 10am
