Saudi Arabia lifts meningitis vaccination requirement for Umrah pilgrimage

Saudi Arabia removes meningitis vaccination requirement for Umrah pilgrimage

The Saudi Arabian government has lifted the mandatory meningitis vaccination requirement for visitors to the country for the Umrah pilgrimage.

The Saudi Arabian Civil Aviation Authority (GACA) has issued an official notice to all airlines stating that the circular requiring vaccinations has been lifted, providing significant relief to pilgrims planning to perform Umrah.

It should be noted that the Saudi government's decision requiring vaccinations was in effect from February 1, 2025. In this case, pilgrims were required to have a certificate of vaccination against meningitis at least 10 days and no more than 3 years before leaving for Saudi Arabia. However, according to the new decision, this requirement is no longer in effect.

The Saudi government continues to provide official information about the new procedures for Umrah pilgrims on its website and through diplomatic channels.