In my opinion this Hajj in 2020 will be perform by only locals around Saudi Arabia because the danger of spread of coronavirus. Some people believe that it will not be performed this year.

Approximately Some 2.5 million pilgrims visit the holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina for the week-long Hajj, a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it. Official data show Hajj and the lesser, year-round Umrah pilgrimage earn the kingdom about $12 billion a year.

Saudi Arabia asked Muslims in March 2020 to put Hajj plans on hold and suspended Umrah until further notice.

Two sources familiar with the matter said authorities are now considering allowing “only symbolic numbers” this year, with restrictions including a ban on older pilgrims and additional health checks.

Massive economic losses expected if COVID-19 closes down Hajj

Because of COVID-19, Saudi Arabia enforced a lockdown and curfew in an attempt to flatten the curve of infections; it has also restricted entry into the holy cities of Mecca and Medina and has suspended the Umrah pilgrimage, the non-mandatory pilgrimage many Muslims perform throughout the year. 

The potential cancelation of Hajj, which is set to take place on July 28 in 2020, would be a step in a responsible direction by Saudi Arabia. If the corona virus outbreak continues to infect populations, the annual pilgrimage just cannot take place for various reasons. One such reason is the incredibly high risk of large gatherings of people, which lies at the heart of Hajj season and at the core of the contagion as well. But what would the cancelation of Hajj mean for Saudi Arabia’s economy? 

In 2017, around 2.4 million Muslims descended on Mecca to perform the annual pilgrimage, Hajj. Of these, some 1.8 million came from outside of Saudi Arabia. An estimated 2 million people were expected to travel to Mecca and Medina for the annual pilgrimage this year.

In 2011, the 10-day pilgrimage generated some $10 billion, according to the BBC.

According to TRT World, Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages add $12 billion to Saudi Arabia’s  GDP per year. That is about 7 percent of the country’s total GDP.

According to numbers released by the national real estate committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers in 2018, both Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages were expected to generate $150 billion in income in Saudi Arabia over a period of five years

Hajj revenues poised to exceed $150bn by 2022: Experts (Updated 28 August 2017)

Economic experts have said Hajj and Umrah revenues are poised to exceed $150 billion by 2022 in light of the expected mergers of economic blocs and groupings to meet the growing demand on Hajj and Umrah economics in terms of transport, commercial stores and expansion in small, medium enterprises (SMEs).
Muhsin Al-Sharif, a member of the Committee of Real Estate and Investment, said Hajj revenues will feed the national economy and, therefore, an integrated plan should be worked out to control revenues and financial resources in a manner that will serve Vision 2030.
This will also serve the national economy and create a mega market not only for seasonal jobs, but also for sustainable jobs which form the nerve of Hajj and Umrah economics, he said.
He said the announced plan to host 30 million pilgrims and Umrah performers by 2030 is a real mirror of plans to bring markets in Makkah and Madinah out of disorganization and put them into well-organized economic frameworks serving changing economic mechanisms that attract high returns estimated at billions of dollars annually.
Accordingly, specialized research centers should be established in coordination with the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah and the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry to provide the economic index, act as a nucleus to attract Saudi capital, and fix the economic figures for Hajj and Umrah seasons in the National Transformation Plan (NTP) 2020.
He said there are a number of opportunities that serve SMEs as they serve a wide sector of Hajjis and Umrah performers.
Al-Sharif said the volume of revenues arising from Hajj and Umrah economics in the next five years is expected to hit $150 billion. However, a small category of investors is exploiting foreign workers and controlling the capital flows which should be fed into investments in the Hajj and Umrah sectors to reflect the dynamics of the growing revenues of the sector, he said.
He said the $150 billion should be directed to re-structure the sector and re-arrange its priorities instead of pumping such money out of the Kingdom. Additionally, decision makers have to be informed on the creation of 100,000 permanent Hajj-related jobs for Saudis, he said.
He said economic aspects of Hajj and Umrah cannot be ignored as they are capable of providing high profit margins in light of mega challenges facing the sector, which will pave the way for the capital flow to Makkah and Madinah, not only in Hajj and Umrah business for the SME sector, but also for the hospitality and hotel sector which captures more than two-thirds of the sector throughout the Kingdom.

In Islamic history, this has happen around 40 times.

• 865 CE (FIRST TIME)
• 930CE
• 983CE
• 1037
• 1253
• 1257
• 1987 (LAST TIME)

How to perform HAJJ Step-by-step

1. Reassume Ihram and the intention to perform Hajj
After completing Umrah rituals, pilgrims must assume the state of Ihram and declare their intentions to do Hajj.
Note: repeat step 1 of Hajj Preparation

2. Travel to Mina
Soon after the observing the morning prayers, all pilgrims must head to Mina (a town in Mecca), where they stay an entire day carrying out ritual prayers – Duhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, Fajr and Qasr – as stated in the Quran.

3. Travel to Mt. Arafat to perform Wafuq
During the second day of Hajj, 9th day of Dhu-al-Hijjah, pilgrims travel to Arafat from Mina reciting Istaghfar and making supplications. Upon reaching Mount Arafat, pilgrims observe Duhr and Asr combined with Qasar prayers near the Jabal al-Rahmah from noon to sunset. This act is known as Waquf (standing before Allah).

4. Offer Prayers in Muzadalifah
Post sunset, pilgrims head to Muzadalifah (a town between Mina and Mt. Arafat) to observe the evening prayers and rest the night until Fajr prayers in preparation for the next day’s ritual of stoning the devil. Pilgrims pick up 49 pebbles of similar size for Rami. On the 10th day Dhu al-Hijjah, pilgrims leave for Mecca before sunset to do Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa’iy and get back to Mina to perform Rami, Nahr and Halq.

5. Perform Rami in Mina
On the 11th and 12th days of Hajj, pilgrims must complete the stoning of the Devil or Rami. Before Sunrise, pilgrims head back to Mina and participate in a ritual known as ‘Stoning the devil’. Seven pebbles (of similar sizes) are thrown at a stone structure known as Jamrat al-Aqabah. This is an act carried out at noon on each day. All pilgrims are required to leave for Mecca before sunset on the 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.

6. Animal Sacrifice – Nahr
The culmination of the stoning ceremony calls for an animal sacrifice. For this pilgrims can purchase sacrifice voucher or a coupon, which states that a sacrifice has been made in their name. the sacrificial animal is either a lamb or a camel. The animal is butchered and its meat is packed and shipped to other Middle Eastern countries or is fed to the poor.

7. Halq (shaving the head) or Taqsir (clipping or shortening of the hair for men and women)
Men should get their head completely shaved, or get their hair clipped. While women are forbidden to shave their heads and only allowed to have a lock or strand of their hair clipped. The act of cutting the hair symbolizes one’s detachment from physical appearances and complete subjection to Allah.

8. Perform Tawaf and Sa’iy

9. Repeat Stoning at Mina After Sunset
On the 11th and 12TH day of Dhu al-Hijjah
The stoning ritual is repeated by throwing pebbles at two other monuments other than Jamrat al Aqabah – Jamrat Oolah (the first Jamrat) and Jamrat Wustah (middle Jamrat). Pilgrims face the Jamarah (main pillar), with the Mecca on their left and Mina on their right, stone it with seven small pebbles while reciting takbeer.

10. Perform the Farewell Tawaf
The next and the final step is the farewell Tawaf, circumambulating the Kaaba anti-clockwise seven times and touching or kissing the Kaaba if possible. Pilgrims reflect on their experience and thank Allah for everything, while circumambulating the Kaaba.

On completing the Tawaf, pilgrims can proceed to collect their belongings, leave Kaaba by setting their left foot out first and making supplications while doing so. This final step marks the end of Hajj rituals.