In pictures: Mecca's Grand Mosque emptied amid coronavirus fears

The Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, has been emptied to undergo cleaning, in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The decision to limit pilgrims from entering holy sites is unprecedented, particularly as many worshippers travel from all over the world and have been saving up for years to make the journey. Mecca is Islam’s oldest and most holy site, and its mosque receives nearly seven million visitors every year, who travel to perform pilgrimages known as Hajj and Umrah. (Abdel Ghani Bashir /AFP)

The kingdom has temporarily suspended all Umrah pilgrimages as the world struggles with the spread of COVID-19. Umrah is a pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of the year and is not considered compulsory. It is unclear how long the ban on Umrah pilgrimages will last. No confirmation has yet been given by the Saudi authorities on whether the coronavirus outbreak will affect the annual Hajj pilgrimage, set to take place in July. (Abdel Ghani Bashir /AFP)

Saudi citizens and residents have been temporarily banned from visiting the holy sites in both Mecca and Medina. Riyadh reported its first case of coronavirus on 2 March. Local authorities said the patient infected was a Saudi national returning from Iran, which has reported the most deaths outside of China. (Abdel Ghani Bashir/AFP)

Carpets around Mecca’s holy mosque are taken away for sterilisation. Governments in the region have advised against large public gatherings, with many closing their borders with Iran. (Haitham El-Tabei/AFP)

Workers have been carrying out an intense and thorough cleaning at the mosque following the arrival of the coronavirus in the Middle East. Online, people have reacted emotionally to the empty scenes at Mecca, describing them as "unnatural" and "sad". (Haitham El-Tabei/AFP)

Empty images of Mecca's Grand Mosque are in stark contrast to the usual bustling sights the world associates with the holy city. (Abdel Ghani Bashir/AFP)

Muslims believe that Mecca is where the Quran, Islam’s holy book, was revealed, and it is also the direction where Muslims face for their five daily prayers. (Amer Hilabi/AFP)