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Saudi Arabia downsizes Hajj in blow to fuel demand

  • Märkte: Oil products
  • 23.06.20

Saudi Arabia has said that the annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage will go ahead next month, but with only a "very limited number of pilgrims" from within the country because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This means already-depressed regional transport fuel demand will miss out on the boost that the Hajj would normally bring.

Saudi Arabia said the decision to bar international pilgrims was made in light of the "risks of coronavirus spreading in crowded places and large gatherings, and its transmission between countries, and the increase in average infections globally." Consequently, only a "very limited number of pilgrims" of various nationalities who already live in Saudi Arabia will be able to perform the Hajj, which this year will fall at the end of July.

The announcement comes just days after Saudi authorities lifted both a nationwide curfew that had been in place since late-March, and all Covid-19 related restrictions on economic and commercial activities.

Although domestic flights restarted operations on 31 May, international flights remain grounded and entry to and exit from Saudi Arabia through all land and maritime borders remains suspended until further notice. Saudi Arabia began suspending select passenger flights in mid-March, before introducing an outright ban on all passenger flights in late March.

On average, the Hajj pilgrimage draws around 2.4mn Muslims to the holy city of Mecca each year, of which around 68pc come from abroad, according to Saudi Arabia's general authority of statistics. Saudi Arabia's demand for jet fuel rises during the peak travel summer and religious holiday season. But the country will now lose the on average more than 1.62mn religious tourists that converge for Hajj each year. More than 1.86mn non-Saudi Muslims performed Hajj in Saudi Arabia last year, of which 94pc, or 1.75mn, traveled from abroad, according to official statistics.

Gasoline demand also typically increases during this season, for which Saudi Arabia usually stockpiles fuel in advance.

Last year 240,000 domestic pilgrims traveled to Mecca by road in 33,000 vehicles, and another 96,000 traveled by road from abroad. This year, because of the restrictions, the increase in gasoline demand will be limited at best.

The UAE today backed Riyadh's decision to hold a curbed Hajj. Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world's busiest hub for international passenger travel, typically sees a surge in passenger numbers during the summer and religious holiday season, as many travelers transit through to get to Mecca.

Dubai this week eased its Covid-19-related air travel restrictions to allow citizens, residents, visitors and tourists to freely travel in and out of its airports after a three-month hiatus.


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