The National Hajj Commission of The Gambia has confirmed that 905 Gambian pilgrims will attend this year’s Hajj ceremony. 

The announcement was made after Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umra approved The Gambia Hajj quota for 2022. 

It said the quota system was introduced by the Saudis to cope with the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic. 

Stringent rules are being introduced for this year’s Hajj including a ban on pilgrims over the age of 65 (years) and mandatory Covid-19 vaccination. 

“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Saudi authorities restrict intending pilgrims over the age of sixty-five from traveling. 

Intending pilgrims are also required to produce a Covid-19 and yellow fever vaccination cards,” the commission said.

It advised Gambian pilgrims who had already paid for their Hajj trip to contact their agents to get travel advice and guidance. 

The Saudi Hajj ministry has estimated that one million international and domestic pilgrims will be able to perform Hajj 1443H (2022). 

This year’s Hajj will begin in the evening of Thursday 7 July and ends in the evening of Tuesday 12 July.