Saudi Arabia has clarified its new policy, introducing travel restrictions for Hajj pilgrims — confining their movements exclusively to Jeddah, Medina, and Mecca. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that individuals visiting Saudi Arabia on a Hajj visa are prohibited from traveling outside these three cities. The visa is designed solely for pilgrimage purposes and does not permit holders to engage in work, seek residency, or travel beyond Jeddah, Medina, and Mecca. Hajj packages for 2024 to be cheaper Violations of these restrictions could result in severe penalties, including deportation and a potential ban on future Hajj participation, according to a Gulf News report. Furthermore, the Ministry clarified that all international visitors, except those from GCC countries who do not require a Hajj permit, must secure a Hajj visa through the official channels. To streamline the application process, the Ministry's website now facilitates electronic registration for the Hajj visa via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa platform. Applicants are required to log in, select the required service, and follow detailed instructions for document submission. Bangladeshis can perform Umrah with transit visa: Saudi Hajj Minister The deadline for Hajj visa applications is set for the 7th of Dhu Al Hijjah, or until the designated quota of pilgrims is met. Processing typically takes up to three working days, and applicants are urged to apply early to adhere to all regulatory requirements.

A 13-member first batch of the national football players left Dhaka for Saudi Arabia's Medina on a two-week tour for intensive training ahead of the Tri-Nation Cup 2023, to be held in Sylhet from March 20 to 28. Brunei Darussalam (No. 190 in FIFA ranking), Seychelles (No. 199) and Bangladesh (No. 192) will compete in the nine-day tournament during the FIFA window. On Thursday, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) picked 27 players for the national training camp for the Tri-Nation Cup Football Tournament. Twelve players from Bashundhara Kings, six from former champions Dhaka Abahani, three from Sheikh Russel, two each from Fortis and Muktijoddha Sangsad, and one each from Dhaka Mohammedan and Bangladesh Police earned a call-up to the camp. The first batch of players led by Bangladesh national team head coach Javier Fernández Cabrera of Spain left the capital Sunday 1:15am. The second batch of players will fly for Medina Monday also at 1:15am. Bangladesh defender Tariq Raihan Kazi, now in Finland, will directly join the team in Medina. Two other players – Sheikh Russel forward Mohammad Ibrahim and Police midfielder Rabiul Hasan – will not accompany the team in the second batch due to problems with their passports. However, they will join the team later.

After about a year and a half of not receiving overseas worshippers due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Saudi Arabia will gradually begin receiving Umrah pilgrimage requests from abroad for vaccinated pilgrims starting Monday. With a capacity that would rise to 2 million pilgrims from 60,000 pilgrims per month, Islam's two holiest sites Mecca and Medina will start welcoming visitors from abroad to their mosques while maintaining Covid-19 precautionary measures, Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday. Domestic and overseas pilgrims will have to submit authorised Covid-19 vaccination certificates along with their Umrah request, an official of the Hajj and Umrah ministry said. Vaccinated pilgrims from countries, which are on Saudi Arabia's entry-ban list, will have to undergo institutional quarantine upon arrival, the official added. On July 25, Saudi Arabia said it would allow pilgrims living outside the country to undertake the Umrah pilgrimage starting August 10. Read: International Umrah pilgrimage resumes on August 10 However, Umrah for Saudi citizens and residents in the Kingdom restarted that day. In early July, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stopped receiving applications for Umrah to prepare for Hajj, which began on the 17th of the month. As Saudi Arabia announced the resumption of Umrah service for pilgrims worldwide from 1st Muharram 1443 after the end of the Hajj season, all countries were allowed to send direct flights except for nine. Pilgrims from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Lebanon would need to undergo a quarantine of 14 days in a third country before arriving in the Kingdom, the authorities said. Read: Pilgrims return to Mecca for ‘umrah’ after 7 months Also, it was made mandatory to be vaccinated against Covid-19 with complete doses of either Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or J&J; complete doses of China's vaccines with a booster shot of either Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or J&J. Umrah is a voluntary Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina undertaken any time of the year. In February last year, it was suspended over fears of the Covid-19 outbreak. However, the Kingdom reopened Muslim holy sites for Umrah after a six-month pause in October same year for domestic worshippers.