The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has said Umrah is now open to vaccinated youngsters aged between 12 and 18.
The ministry has issued more than 13,000 permits for this age group, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The permits also allow them to visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
Dr Abdul Fattah Mashat, Saudi deputy minister of Hajj and Umrah, said people could obtain permits by registering on the Umrah and Eatmarna apps launched "to ensure safety and health of those wishing to perform the rituals of Umrah".
He said the ministry had worked in collaboration with relevant authorities, before the start of the Umrah season, to apply effective "mechanisms and create a safe and easy environment for the pilgrims throughout their trip to achieve security, safety and human health", while adhering to health procedures established by the ministry.
Pilgrims will need to show their vaccination status using the Tawakkalna app for entry to the holy sites.
Saudi Arabia started receiving Umrah requests from abroad on Monday, nearly 18 months after foreign entry was banned because of the pandemic.
The ministry also said the number of pilgrims permitted has been increased to two million a month.
Pilgrims coming from outside Saudi Arabia must provide their vaccination certificates, approved by the authorities in their country and by the kingdom.
Pilgrims travelling from abroad must comply with the institutional quarantine procedures, SPA reported.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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