This Eid al-Adha, the new rules for hajj have left many frustrated

Muslims from across the globe made their way to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to participate in the pilgrimage of hajj. Some who wished to participate in this year's ritual walked away frustrated due to a new set of travel rules put into place by the government. (Hassan Shibly)

Saudi Arabia finally reopened the holy city of Mecca to international travelers after a two-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic. But a new set of travel restrictions and operating procedures produced a different set of problems for those who wished to make the journey this Eid al-Adha.

Saudi Arabia reopened the country for 1 million people wishing to make the 2022 pilgrimage to Mecca. About 2 million people normally descend upon the city for hajj, but officials decided to limit the number of participants this year because of the ongoing pandemic.