PHSSR Saudi Arabia 2025

An in-depth assessment of Saudi Arabia's strategic approach to mass gathering management amid the Covid-19 pandemic Each year, Saudi Arabia hosts two major mass gathering events – the Hajj and the Umrah – attracting millions of Muslim pilgrims from around the world. The Hajj is one of the world’s largest annual mass events, attracting more than 2.5 million pilgrims from 180 countries over a 10-day period determined by the Islamic calendar. The Umrah, meanwhile, is considered an abbreviated pilgrimage that can be performed at any time of the year. These gatherings pose a signi ficant public health threat to Saudi Arabia which has developed a multi-pronged plan to contain the spread of disease both locally and internationally. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Saudi Arabia leveraged inherent uncertainty and demonstrated its resilience in preparing for these mass events. The government responded to the crisis with a strategic plan that included the implementation of several public health measures. To contain the spread of Covid-19, the 2020 Umrah was suspended and the Hajj was restricted to a limited number of domestic pilgrims. In light of a clear relationship between vaccination and lower incidence of Covid-19, capacity for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims increased again over time. The Covid-19 pandemic had a profound public health and economic impact on both forms of pilgrimage. Before the suspension of the Hajj and Umrah, there were concerns about the potential for Covid-19 outbreaks among the large gatherings of pilgrims. While no major outbreaks were directly associated with the events, their suspension was a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the virus. However, their suspension had signi ficant economic repercussions. The Hajj and Umrah contribute billions of dollars to the Saudi Arabian economy annually, providing employment and supporting local businesses. The suspension led to job losses, decreased tourism revenue and financial hardship for businesses reliant on pilgrim spending. Pilgrims planning to attend these events were also affected. Many had travel plans disrupted, faced financial losses due to non-refundable bookings and experienced deep disappointment at the inde finite postponement of their religious obligations. The suspension also had an impact on countries with large Muslim populations, as they too rely on the income generated by the participation of their citizens in these pilgrimages. Despite these challenges, Saudi Arabia took steps to gradually resume the Hajj and Umrah, implementing strict health protocols and limiting the number of pilgrims to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission. These measures aimed to protect public health while gradually restoring the socioeconomic bene fits of these two events. The MoH and WHO conducted a risk assessment of the 2020 Hajj, leading to extensive preventative measures, including the exclusion of foreign pilgrims and a reduction in the number of pilgrims. Signi ficant differences in disease control between countries contributed to the implementation of evolving controls for the Hajj during different waves of the pandemic. Hajj participation was permitted based on the vaccine and health status of potential pilgrims, while event capacity was limited, allowing the Hajj to take place while reducing the spread of disease. Table 10 summarises the Saudi Arabian government’s policies regarding the Hajj, re flecting resilience to the evolving pandemic and the immunity level of the population. Overall, the government implemented a number of preventative measures to ensure the safety of Hajj pilgrims during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of these measures included: •Health screening : Pilgrims were required to undergo health screening and Covid-19 testing before embarking on their journey. They were also tested upon arrival in Saudi Arabia. Only those with negative test results were allowed to proceed; 84 Sustainability and Resilience in the Saudi Arabian Health System The Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience