After banning visa for Indians, Pakistanis and others, Saudi Arabia now bans entry to Makkah without..
Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims, located in Saudi Arabia. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is a mandatory religious duty for all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey at least once in their lifetime. As per the latest and significant development ahead of the Hajj season, Saudi Arabia has announced strict entry regulations for Makkah. Starting April 29, only individuals with a valid Hajj visa will be allowed into the holy city. Additionally, from April 23, expatriates without official permits will be denied entry, as part of enhanced measures to manage the pilgrimage more effectively.
As per the Saudi Gazette report, the permit to enter will be issued exclusively to individuals whose residency is officially registered in Makkah, those with a valid Hajj permit, or those authorized to work within the holy sites. Applications for these permits can be submitted online through the Absher Individuals platform or the Muqeem portal.
After banning visa for Indians, Paksitanis and others, Saudi Arabia now bans entry to Makkah without..
As part of a wider effort to regulate the upcoming Hajj season and ensure the safety and security of all pilgrims, the Ministry of Interior recently announced the latest Hajj-related regulations in preparation for the 2025 pilgrimage season. The report further mentioned that the Ministry has confirmed that Sunday, 15 Shawwal 1446 (April 13, 2025) will mark the final day for Umrah pilgrims to enter the Kingdom. Furthermore, all foreign pilgrims must leave the Kingdom by Tuesday, 1 Dhul-Qi’dah 1446 (April 29, 2025).
Expatriates wishing to enter Makkah will need to secure official Hajj permits from the relevant authorities starting Wednesday, 25 Shawwal 1446 (April 23, 2025). Those without valid permits will be denied entry and sent back to their point of origin.
The ministry announced that starting Tuesday, April 29, the issuance of Umrah permits through the Nusuk platform will be suspended for Saudi citizens, GCC nationals, expatriates in Saudi Arabia, and other visa holders. This suspension will remain in place until Monday, 14 Dhul-Hijjah 1446, corresponding to June 10, 2025. The ministry emphasized that starting April 29, entry into Makkah or staying within the city will be strictly restricted to individuals holding official Hajj visas.
The ministry called on all individuals, as well as Hajj service providers and establishments, to comply with these regulations, stressing that those who violate them will face legal penalties. The report further mentioned that it emphasized the importance of cooperation to uphold the safety and sanctity of the pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has announced a temporary halt on issuing new short-term visas to citizens of 14 countries — including India, Pakistan, and Egypt — as part of its efforts to better manage the flow of travellers ahead of the upcoming Hajj season, Gulf News reported. The suspension, which comes into effect on April 13, will apply to business visit visas (both single- and multiple-entry), e-tourist visas, and family visit visas. Other countries affected by the ban include Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Nigeria, Algeria, Indonesia, Iraq, Sudan, Bangladesh, and Libya. According to Saudi officials, travellers from these countries who already hold valid visas will still be allowed entry into the Kingdom until April 13, but must leave no later than April 29, reported Gulf News.
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