Saudi Arabia decided two years later to remove the preventive barriers around the Holy Kaaba, allowing worshippers to once again touch the House of Allah.
Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, announced this decision on Tuesday.
The barriers were installed to ensure social distancing between pilgrims.
Visual report | Following the generous directive from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the preventive barriers around #the_Holy_Kaaba#the_Grand_Mosque#the_Presidency_of_the_Two_Holy_Mosques pic.twitter.com/NYadkgOJtD
— Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques (@ReasahAlharmain) August 2, 2022
The area around the Kaaba, where pilgrims perform seven circumambulations, was closed in March 2020 for sterilization as a preventive measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Al-Sudais said that this decision demonstrated the Saudi leadership's care for visitors to the Grand Mosque and its commitment to facilitating their rituals in a safe and spiritual atmosphere, given the huge number of visitors that the mosque has witnessed during the Umrah season.
He said that the presidency is cooperating with all sectors operating in the Grand Mosque to receive pilgrims and provide all necessary services in accordance with the aspirations of the Kingdom's leadership.
He expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their care, attention, and support for the Two Holy Mosques. He prayed to Allah to bless them for their good deeds.
The General Authority for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques stated that it began preparing to provide services at an early stage in accordance with crowd management plans and prepared the Grand Mosque in Mecca and its inner courtyards to facilitate Umrah rituals for pilgrims with ease and tranquility.