Coronavirus vaccines have been made mandatory in Saudi Arabia for all who provide services to pilgrims in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

According to the Kingdom’s Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, workers in the Hajj and Umrah services sector, those working in stores in the Holy Cities, as well as all other workers in Makkah and Madinah, must take the shots against the virus by Ramadhaan 1. Failing this, the employer must bear the expense of the employees’ negative PCR tests, which would have to be submitted to Ministry on a weekly basis.

The Saudi Gazette reports that the Ministry said its decision, was in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s instructions to curb the spread of coronavirus and return the Kingdom to normality.

Umm Muhammed Umar