Saudi Arabia has granted approval for people vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik jab to enter the country in a move that will enable Muslims to take part in religious pilgrimages, AFP quotes the vaccine's developers as saying.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has granted approval for entry of individuals vaccinated with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine starting from Jan 1, 2022,” the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which financed the development of Sputnik V, said in a statement.

The decision said the fund, “will enable Muslims from all over the world vaccinated with Sputnik V to participate in the Hajj and the Umrah pilgrimages to Islam's holiest sites in the cities of Mecca and Medina.”

Foreign tourists vaccinated with Sputnik will still be required to quarantine for 48 hours and take a PCR test.