Mecca
Indonesian Muslims pray spaced apart as they practice social distancing to curb the spread of the new coronavirus during an evening prayer called "tarawih" marking the first eve of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. Monday, April 12, 2021. During Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/ Achmad Ibrahim)
Muslims mark Ramadan amid virus surge and new restrictions

By Amr Nabil And Niniek Karmini Apr. 12, 2021 11:37 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 8, 1973, file photo, oil ministers of six Persian Gulf countries and representatives of western nations meet in Vienna, Austria, to negotiate price boosts sought by oil producers. Facing each other, are from left to right, Dr. Jamshid Amouzegar, then Iran Finance Minister, then Saudi Oil Minister Ahmed Zaki Yanani. Yamani, a long-serving oil minister in Saudi Arabia who led the kingdom through the 1973 oil crisis, the nationalization its state energy company and later found himself kidnapped by the assassin Carlos the Jackal, died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in London. He was 90. (AP Photo, File)
Long-serving Saudi oil minister Ahmed Zaki Yamani dies at 90

By Jon Gambrell Feb. 23, 2021 03:43 AM EST

A patient with coronavirus breathes wearing an oxygen mask in an intensive care unit at the hospital in Stryi, western Ukraine, on Tuesday Sep. 29 2020. The global death toll from COVID-19 has topped 2 million. The milestone was reached just over a year after the coronavirus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan. It is about equal to the population of Brussels, Mecca, Minsk or Vienna. It took eight months to hit 1 million lives lost. It took less than four months after that to reach the next million. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Global death toll from COVID-19 tops 2M amid vaccine rollout

Jan. 15, 2021 12:41 PM EST

Indonesian Islamic cleric and the leader of Islamic Defenders Front Rizieq Shihab, center, speaks to his followers upon arrival from Saudi Arabia at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. Thousands of followers of the firebrand cleric joyfully welcomed him at an the airport as he returned home from a 3-year exile in Saudi Arabia after criminal charges including a pornography case were dropped. (AP Photo)
Firebrand Indonesian cleric returns from 3-year Saudi exile

By Niniek Karmini Nov. 09, 2020 11:10 PM EST

Saudi man crashes car into gates of Mecca's Grand Mosque

Oct. 30, 2020 10:32 PM EDT
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Saudi man in a speeding car crashed into the outer gates of Mecca's Grand Mosque late Friday night, the country's state...

CLARIFIES THAT THE UMRAH PILGRIMAGE CAN BE UNDERTAKEN AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR -- In this photo released by Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Muslims practice social distancing while praying around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque during the first day umrah pilgrimages were allowed to restart, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. The umrah pilgrimage, or smaller pilgrimage, can be undertaken at any time of the year. A very small, limited number of people donning the white terrycloth garment symbolic of the Muslim pilgrimage circled Islam's holiest site in Mecca on Sunday after Saudi Arabia lifted coronavirus restrictions that had been in place for months. (Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah via AP)
Pilgrims return to Mecca as Saudi eases virus restrictions

Oct. 04, 2020 02:23 AM EDT

An adult helps hold a child as his nasal swab sample is taken by a health worker at a COVID-19 testing center in Hyderabad, India, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020. India has crossed 100,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, putting the country's toll at nearly 10% of the global fatalities and behind only the United States and Brazil. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
The Latest: S. Korea reports virus numbers trending lower

By The Associated Press Oct. 04, 2020 01:11 AM EDT

FILE - In this May 25, 2019 file photo, Muslim worshippers circumambulate the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the minor pilgrimage, known as Umrah in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Authorities on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, released new details on how it plans to gradually allow Muslims back to Islam's holiest site in Mecca to perform the smaller-year-round pilgrimage, which has been suspended for the past seven months due to the coronavirus (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
Saudi Arabia to lift ban on Mecca pilgrimage amid virus

Sep. 22, 2020 05:16 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 25, 2019 file photo, Muslim worshippers circumambulate the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the minor pilgrimage, known as Umrah in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Authorities on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, released new details on how it plans to gradually allow Muslims back to Islam's holiest site in Mecca to perform the smaller-year-round pilgrimage, which has been suspended for the past seven months due to the coronavirus (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
Saudi Arabia to launch app for Mecca pilgrims amid virus

Sep. 21, 2020 10:44 AM EDT

Mullahs wearing masks to help stop the spread of the coronavirus wait for Eid al-Adha prayer while maintaining a social distance at the almost empty main Mosque in Moscow, Russia, Friday, July 31, 2020. Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, Islam's most important holiday, marks the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Final days of hajj and Eid festival impacted by coronavirus

By Aya Batrawy Jul. 31, 2020 03:27 AM EDT

In this photo released by the Saudi Media Ministry, a woman, among a limited numbers of pilgrims, prays in the first rituals of the hajj, while keeping social distancing to limit exposure and the potential transmission of the coronavirus, at the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, July 29, 2020. A unique and scaled-down hajj started on Wednesday. (Saudi Media Ministry via AP)
Pilgrims pray on peak day of hajj in shadow of coronavirus

By Aya Batrawy Jul. 30, 2020 04:12 AM EDT

Hundreds of Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, as they observe social distancing to protect themselves against the coronavirus, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, July 29, 2020 During the first rites of hajj, Muslims circle the Kaaba counter-clockwise seven times while reciting supplications to God, then walk between two hills where Ibrahim's wife, Hagar, is believed to have run as she searched for water for her dying son before God brought forth a well that runs to this day. (AP Photo)
Islamic holiday Eid comes as families grieve virus victims

By Mariam Fam Jul. 29, 2020 11:04 AM EDT

Muslim pilgrims line up as they leave after they circle the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, as they keep social destination to protect themselves against Coronavirus a ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, July 29, 2020. During the first rites of hajj, Muslims circle the Kaaba counter-clockwise seven times while reciting supplications to God, then walk between two hills where Ibrahim's wife, Hagar, is believed to have run as she searched for water for her dying son before God brought forth a well that runs to this day. (AP Photo)
Very different, symbolic hajj in Saudi Arabia amid virus

By Aya Batrawy Jul. 29, 2020 02:27 AM EDT

General view showing the Grand Mosque, at the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Monday, July 27, 2020 ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage. Anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 pilgrims will be allowed to perform the annual hajj pilgrimage this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo)
Technology infuses ancient hajj rites tailored for pandemic

By Aya Batrawy Jul. 28, 2020 08:21 AM EDT

A pilgrim touches the Kaaba, the square structure in the Great Mosque, toward which believers turn when praying, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Monday, July 27, 2020. Anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 pilgrims will be allowed to perform the annual hajj pilgrimage this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Saudi Ministry of Media via AP)
Pilgrims arrive in Mecca for downsized hajj amid pandemic

By Aya Batrawy Jul. 27, 2020 04:47 AM EDT

" Sugar", a lovebird, stands over an empty cup of tea in front of the laptop of Associated Press photographer Amr Nabil displaying images in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, July 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
VIRUS DIARY: In Saudi Arabia, a photographer finds new focus

By Amr Nabil Jul. 09, 2020 09:39 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 7, 2020 file photo, workers disinfect the ground around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, over fears of the new coronavirus, the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Guidelines were announced Monday, July 6, 2020 as Saudi Arabia gets ready for the 1,000 or so pilgrims that will be allowed to perform the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca later this month. The experience will be unlike any before which usually draws some 2.5 million people. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
New at Saudi hajj: Bottled holy water, sterilized pebbles

By Aya Batrawy Jul. 07, 2020 04:55 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 10, 2019 file photo taken with low shutter speed, Muslim pilgrims make their way up a rocky hill known as Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual hajj pilgrimage, ahead of sunrise near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia says this year’s hajj will not be canceled, but that due to the coronavirus only “very limited numbers” of people will be allowed to perform the major Muslim pilgrimage. The kingdom said Monday, June 22, 2020 that only people of various nationalities already residing in the country would be allowed to perform the hajj. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
Saudi Arabia: Hajj will see at most 'thousands' due to virus

By Aya Batrawy Jun. 23, 2020 03:12 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 7, 2020 file photo, workers disinfect the ground around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia after authorities emptied Islam's holiest site for sterilization over fears of the new coronavirus. Saudi Arabia said Tuesday, June 22, 2020 this year’s hajj will not be canceled, but that due to the coronavirus only “very limited numbers” of people will be allowed to perform the pilgrimage that traditionally draws around 2 million people from around the world to Mecca once a year. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
Saudi Arabia to hold 'very limited' hajj due to virus

By Aya Batrawy Jun. 22, 2020 02:53 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 7, 2020 file photo, workers disinfect the ground around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia after authorities emptied Islam's holiest site for sterilization over fears of the new coronavirus. This was supposed to be Saudi Arabia's year to shine as host of the prestigious G20 gathering of world leaders. Instead, due to the pandemic, the gathering this November will likely be a virtual meet-up, stripping its host of the pomp that would have accompanied televised arrivals on Riyadh's tarmac. Even the upcoming hajj pilgrimage faces the possibility of being canceled or dramatically pared down. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
Saudis see high hopes for 2020 upended by pandemic

By Aya Batrawy Jun. 16, 2020 02:10 AM EDT