Prognosis
Saudi Arabia Severely Restricts Hajj in New Hit for Economy
- Rite restricted to ‘very limited’ number as virus spreads
- Religious tourism spending equals about 3% of Saudi economy
Workers clean the floor of the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on Feb. 28.
Photographer: Abdel Ghani Bashir/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Saudi Arabia said it will restrict the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca this year to a “very limited” number of Muslims to contain the spread of the coronavirus, a historic decision that will reverberate in an economy already reeling from low oil prices and a pandemic-related lockdown.
Authorities haven’t yet settled on an exact figure. But hajj Minister Mohammed Benten spoke in terms of about 1,000 -- compared to more than 2 million who took part in the annual Islamic ritual last year. Only Saudis and foreigners residing in the kingdom will be allowed to participate in the pilgrimage this July.