KSA sets minimum age 12 yrs to perform Hajj

Staff Reporter :
Considering the increasing pressure of pilgrims like return to the pre-pandemic times, the government of Saudi Arabia has decided to set minimum age limit for the pilgrims this year.
According to the decision of the Saudi government, the minimum age for performing this year’s Hajj pilgrimage is 12 years, the Gulf News, a Middle East based newspaper reports on Wednesday.
When contacted, Shahadat Hossain Taslim, President of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), an apex body of the Hajj agencies, said that it wouldn’t be effective for the pilgrims of Bangladesh.
“We have signed agreements with the Saudi government. No age limit was mentioned in the deals. I think the decision was taken for the domestic pilgrims. But, the issue must be cleared,” he added.
According to the report, the government Saudi Arabia has set the minimum age for performing this year’s Hajj pilgrimage at 12 years as the numbers of pilgrims will return to the pre-pandemic times.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj has also pointed out that priority for registering to undertake this year’s pilgrimage will be given to Muslims who did not do Hajj, one of Islam’s five obligatory duties.
Hajj permits can be issued via the electronic platform “Absher” starting from May 5 this year (15-10-1444AH) less than two months before the Hajj season due in late June this year.
Hajj this year is expected to start around June 26.
The ministry added that only Muslims holding Hajj visas or those with legal residency in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to undertake the pilgrimage rites.
The ministry had earlier unveiled four packages for domestic pilgrims
wishing to attend the 2023 Hajj with costs ranging from SR 3984 to SR 11,841.
According to the Saudi ministry, details of these packages and transportation fees depend on types of transport means and the pilgrim’s departure city en route to Hajj.
Around 2.5 million Muslims used to attend Hajj annually in the pre-pandemic times.
Earlier, the Saudi Arabia has said that there will be no limits on the numbers of pilgrims from around the world for the upcoming Hajj season, reversing earlier restrictions prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic in the past two years.
In the past two years, Saudi Arabia downsized the numbers of pilgrims allowed to perform the Hajj rites to prevent spread of Covid-19. Muslims, who can physically and financially afford Hajj, have to perform it at least once in a lifetime.
Meanwhile, the Hajj pilgrims from over 58 countries from Europe, the Americas and Australia can apply directly for Hajj through the new ‘Nusuk Hajj’ platform – nusuk.hajj.sa, according to another announcement of the Saudi government.