Bad news for India, Pakistan as Saudi Arabia imposes visa ban for…, Prince MBS takes decision due to…

Riyadh: In a major development, Saudi Arabia has imposed a temporary ban on visas for people from 14 countries. The temporary visa ban will apply to Umrah visas in addition to business and family visas. The decision for the temporary visa ban has been taken by the Saudi government to prevent people from participating in the Hajj without registration. The visa ban will continue until mid-June, until the completion of this year’s Hajj. Saudi officials said that foreigners can come on Umrah visas only until April 13. After this, Umrah visas will not be issued.

It is noteworthy that thousands of people died in Saudi Arabia during Hajj in 2024, most of them were unauthorized pilgrims. The main aim of the visa ban is to stop people from going on the Hajj without registration.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman directed officials to tighten visa rules to maintain order in Hajj. The temporary visa ban has been imposed for 14 countries, including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia and Yemen.

Decision Taken To Make Hajj Easier

To streamline Hajj travel and enhance security, Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended some visas.  Authorities urge compliance with the new regulations to avoid penalties.  Illegal overstays may result in a five-year ban from the country.

The Middle East country has issued a digital guide for Hajj and Umrah in 16 languages. As per Saudi officials, they are concern about the safety of people during Hajj and wanted to ensure they can complete their Hajj safely and comfortably.

Saudi Government Decides The Number Of Pilgrims

Saudi Arabia’s strict quota system for the Hajj pilgrimage, while intended to manage the event, has not prevented a significant number of unregistered foreign pilgrims from participating. The resulting overcrowding and extreme heat contributed to over 1,000 deaths in 2024, prompting Saudi officials to emphasise the necessity of stricter visa controls to address the issue of unauthorized pilgrims.

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