Saudi Arabia to impose temporary visa ban on 14 countries, including India
Saudi Arabia will temporarily suspend short-term visas for citizens from 14 countries, including India, in a bid to regulate tourist arrivals ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage in June, Gulf News reported on Monday.
The ban, effective from April 13, will apply to citizens from India, Egypt, Pakistan, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Nigeria, Algeria, Indonesia, Iraq, Sudan, Bangladesh and Libya. It will last until mid-June, when the Hajj pilgrimage concludes.
The suspension of short-term visas for individuals from these countries will include a ban on business visit visas, e-tourist visas and family visit visas.
However, travellers from these countries who currently hold valid visas will be allowed to enter the country until April 13 but must leave by April 29.
“The Ministry affirms that staying after this date is a violation, subject to legal penalties,” the country’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said.
The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five key obligations of Islam that Muslims with the means to do so are expected to fulfil at least once in their lifetime. The dates of the Hajj are determined by the position of the moon according to the Islamic lunar calendar. The ritual lasts several days and ends in Mecca.
It is scheduled to start on June 6 and conclude on June 11 this year, depending on the position...
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