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Join on Telegram Rabat – Mobile apps Eatmarna and Tawakkalna mobile – launched two years ago by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah – are making Umrah smoother and safer for foreign and local pilgrims during Ramadan.
The ministry developed the two applications for domestic pilgrims to book Umrah permits during the COVID-19 outbreak when precautionary restrictions were still in force.
But because of their success in providing an easy and safe spiritual experience for worshippers, the ministry continued using the applications and announced that pilgrims can also use them to apply for Umrah permits.
Eatmarna, which means “Let’s perform Umrah”, allows pilgrims to book permits and appointments for Umrah and other religious rituals, including Tawaf and entry to the two holy mosques in Mecca and Madinah.
Visitors can reserve a date and time for their ritual by providing their passport information and visa number.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on March 5 that it no longer requires permits for visiting the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s grave due to the drop and COVID-19 cases.
But the ministry still requires permits for performing Umrah and praying in the Noble Rawdah.
The application helps keep mosques relatively empty and within the capacity approved by the authorities, providing a safer and more spiritual atmosphere for pilgrims.
“Eatmarna is a modern application that meets the needs of the pilgrims and guarantees a peaceful journey, especially on these blessed days,” said the Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, adding that the government of Saudi Arabia is keen to overcome all difficulties and facilitate the performance of rituals.
The application has Issued a total of 2,534,396 Umrah permits since the Umrah season began in August 2021.
Eatmarna application is integrated with Tawakkalna application, which verifies the health status of worshippers seeking entry to the two holy mosques and allows users to identify the crowd percentage in order to choose the most suitable time to perform Umrah.
Tawakkalna application no longer requires an immune status to obtain a permit to perform Tawaf, but the permit is still required to visit the Prophet’s Tomb depending on the number of worshippers present at the mosque.
Tawaf is the practice of taking rounds or encircling the Holy Kaaba seven times as part of Umrah or Hajj.
Read also: Mecca to Receive 1 Million Pilgrims for this Year’s Hajj
