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More than 16,000 Russians to make hajj to Mecca this year

The price of a tour is 95,000 roubles and higher

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, August 20 (Itar-Tass) - More than 16,000 Russian Muslims will travel to Mecca on a hajj this year, according to the quota approved by Saudi Arabia.

Its authorities have cut quotas by 20 percent for all countries this year. “Instead of 20,500 persons before we have 16,400 this year. As a result, the Russian quota was used up sooner than in the previous years,” Russian Hajj Mission Head Magomed Gamzayev said on Tuesday, August 20.

Following coronavirus and dengue virus outbreaks in Saudi Arabia, the Mission turned to government agencies for travel recommendations. However Saudi Arabia did not put forth any extra requirements in addition to the traditional vaccination against meningitis and diphtheria.

Pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia from September 6 till October 9 and return between October 19 and November 19 by plane or between October 20 and December 3 by road. The price of a tour is 95,000 roubles and higher.

According to the rules, pilgrims should be no older than 65 years of age and no younger than 12 years of age. Experience shows, however, that as a rule, most of the pilgrims are over 18 years of age.

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