First group of Iranian pilgrims for Hajj 2022 depart for Saudi Arabia

A number of officials and executives from the Organization of Hajj and Pilgrimage attended the ceremony to see off the first group of Hajj pilgrims departing Iran for Saudi Arabia in the early hours of Sunday, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

39,635 Iranian pilgrims will depart for Hajj 2022 from 17 airports across the country.

Mohammad Mohammadi Bakhsh, head of Civil Aviation Organization of Iran said the organization has been scheduling for departure of Hajj pilgrims for two months.

Hujjat-ul-Islam Abdul Fattah Navvab, representative of the Supreme Leader in Hajj and pilgrimage affairs expressed satisfaction for resumption of Hajj pilgrimage following two years of COVID-related limitations.

Saudi Arabia has reportedly admitted one million pilgrims to Hajj 2022 making a third of those admitted in pre-COVID era.

Pilgrims to Hajj 2022 are required to maintain the health protocols against COVID-19 and Saudi government announced that only pilgrims under 65 who have been fully vaccinated against the pandemic infection by vaccines approved by the Ministry of Health will be able to perform Hajj.

Pilgrims from outside Saudi Arabia are required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR test performed within 72 hours of the time of their departure for Saudi Arabia.