Saudis explore if women of all ages can perform Hajj, Umrah without Mahram

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Saudis explore if women of all ages can perform Hajj, Umrah without Mahram

Currently, only women above 45 years of age are allowed to perform Hajj and Umrah without male guardian

Sunday October 20, 2019 10:26 AM, ummid.com News Network

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia is considering to allow women of all ages to perform Hajj and Umrah without Mahram i.e. male guardian, local media reported.

Currently, only women above 45 years of age are allowed to perform Hajj and Umrah without male guardian. However, as per the latest update in this regard, Saudi government is studying various visa options to allow women of all ages to perform Hajj and Umrah without Mahram, Arab News reported.

Women are currently required to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform pilgrimages with a Mahram, or be met by him on arrival in the Kingdom, although women over the age of 45 may travel without a Mahram if they are in an organized tour group.

If women travel with a group and without a mahram. they must submit a notarised letter of no objection from someone who could be considered their mahram, authorizing travel for Hajj or Umrah with that group.

But Arab News has reported that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is conducting studies to issue visit visas for both tourism and Umrah purposes, and that this process is expected to pave the way for allowing women of all ages to come without the need for a mahram.

The ministry updates also include giving pilgrims greater flexibility on transport options that can be accessed on a portal that allows Muslims around the world to apply for an Umrah package digitally, Arab News reported quoting Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Abdulfattah Mashat.

The Maqam portal is an online platform for thw Muslims from around the world to apply for an Umrah package digitally. Almost 1.1 million people used Maqam in its trial phase last year, allowing them to choose between over 30 companies providing travel, accommodation and other necessities for trips to Makkah and Madinah.

Though Saudis had allowed women above 45 years of age for Hajj, India used this facility only in 2018.

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