This year’s Hajj is set to return to normal, meaning it will go back to pre-Covid times.

Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah Ministry has announced the removal of all Covid restrictions and that it will cater for pre-pandemic numbers.

In 2019 about 2.5 million pilgrims performed the Hajj before the pandemic struck. In 2020 and 2021 the kingdom allowed a limited number of local pilgrims and last year it gave the green light for a million pilgrims from abroad under strict Covid conditions.

This year’s Hajj season is expected to begin around June 26th.

South Africa has yet to be informed of how many pilgrims it can send for 2023. The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) has said that the quota will be disclosed soon.