Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the world. This year, Hajj will start on 4 June 2025. Usually approximately three million Muslims from around the world gather in Makkah for Hajj each year.
Umrah is a shorter, non-compulsory pilgrimage for Muslims, which is performed as part of the Hajj ritual, but can also be undertaken at any time. To perform pilgrimage, the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has issued new requirements and recommendations, see LINK and below.
Information in general:
- Performing the rituals of Hajj and Umrah is strenuous and often involves long walks in hot weather. Pilgrims must ensure that they are as physically fit as possible.
- Ideally, pilgrims should see their doctor at least four to six weeks before the Hajj for advice on vaccinations, food and water precautions, risks from insect bites, heat exhaustion and how to avoid injury.
- Pilgrims with pre-existing medical conditions should discuss with their doctor whether traveling is an option. If they are taking medication, they should ensure that they have a sufficient supply for the time abroad and that they have a copy of their prescription with them.
- Requirements of the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA (new since 2025!):
The Ministry of Health requires that pilgrims must be free of illnesses that would interfere with their capacity to safely conduct the Hajj. These include the following illnesses that typically impede pilgrims from carrying out the rituals:- Failure of a major organ (advanced kidney failure requiring dialysis, advanced heart failure with symptoms at rest or on minimal physical effort, chronic lung diseases requiring intermittent or continuous oxygen use, advanced liver cirrhosis accompanied by signs of liver failure).
- Severe neurological and psychiatric disorders that impair cognition or are accompanied by severe physical disabilities.
- Senility accompanied by dementia.
- Pregnancy in the last two months or high-risk pregnancy at any stage.
- Active infectious diseases that pose a public health risk especially in crowded settings (such as open pulmonary tuberculosis and hemorrhagic fevers).
- Active cancer patients on chemotherapy or other therapies that severely suppress the immune system.
- Failure of a major organ (advanced kidney failure requiring dialysis, advanced heart failure with symptoms at rest or on minimal physical effort, chronic lung diseases requiring intermittent or continuous oxygen use, advanced liver cirrhosis accompanied by signs of liver failure).
General precautions:
- Disposable razor blades recommended for the obligatory head shave
- Good personal hygiene (hand washing, disinfection, etc.), handkerchiefs when coughing or sneezing and disposal of used handkerchiefs in a waste bin
- Wear masks while performing the rituals and in crowded places
- Avoid contact with people who appear ill and do not share their personal belongings
- Avoid visiting and coming into contact with camels on farms, markets or in stables, and avoid drinking unpasteurized milk or eating raw meat or animal products that have not been thoroughly cooked.
- Practice good food and drinking water hygiene to prevent food and waterborne diseases
- Drink plenty of fluids!
- Avoid direct sunlight Mosquito repellent, especially during the day (dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases!)
Required vaccinations (for details, see website of the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).
- The meningococcal vaccination (quadrivalent conjugate vaccine, Menveo® ®/Menquadfi®)) is mandatory for all persons aged 1 year and over and must be administered at least 10 days before departure. Vaccination with a conjugate vaccine is valid for 5 years.
- Poliomyelitis vaccination: In addition to the basic immunization, a polio booster vaccination is required if you are traveling from countries where wild polioviruses or circulating polioviruses have been reported.
- Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for all travelers over 9 months of age when entering Saudi Arabia from countries or areas at risk of yellow fever.
- COVID-19 vaccination is required for pilgrims with following conditions:
Age over 65 years - Pregnant women - Chronic heart diseases - Chronic respiratory diseases - Chronic kidney failure - Hereditary blood disorders (sickle cell anemia, thalassemia) - Congenital or drug-induced immunodeficiency, or cancer - Chronic neurological diseases.
Recommended vaccinations:
- All pilgrims should have up-to-date routine vaccinations (diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis/poliomyelitis/measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, etc.) and should have a booster vaccination against polio according to Swiss ECTM recommendation.
- Hepatitis A vaccination
- Hepatitis B vaccination (especially for men due to the frequent shaving of the head on site)
- COVID-19 vaccination: according to KSA: for all pilgrims recommended and mandatory for some (see above)
- Influenza vaccination: according to KSA: for all pilgrims recommended For other vaccinations depending on risk: see country page at www.healthytravel.ch