section_path: Economic impact by continent, region and country/Asia/Middle East/Saudi Arabia
section_name: Saudi Arabia
paragraph_text: Saudi Arabia
  
  On 27 February, Saudi Arabia halted travel to Mecca and Medina over coronavirus. This has prevented foreigners from reaching the holy city of Mecca and the Kaaba. Travel was also suspended to Muhammad's mosque in Medina. Images of the emptied ṣaḥn of the Great Mosque of Mecca, where pilgrims are ordinarily performing the tawaf around the Kaaba, went viral on social media.