Unauthorized Hajj Pilgrims Will Be Fined, Deported: Saudi Arabia

IQNA – Saudi authorities have announced that foreign nationals found at Mecca or other holy sites without an official Hajj permit will face a fine of 20,000 Saudi riyals (approximately USD 5,300), immediate deportation, and a 10-year entry ban.

These measures will be enforced from May 29 to June 10, 2025, coinciding with the Hajj season.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior issued the warning in a statement on Saturday, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The government stressed that the penalties aim to safeguard the safety and orderliness of the annual pilgrimage, which draws millions of Muslims from around the world.

Authorities are intensifying efforts to prevent violations of Hajj regulations, which are in place to manage crowd control and ensure a secure environment for pilgrims. Saudi officials have repeatedly urged foreign visitors to follow the established procedures and obtain proper Hajj visas through legal channels.

Recent incidents have underscored the seriousness of the crackdown. Saudi Hajj security personnel apprehended an Indian citizen who attempted to smuggle four individuals into Mecca using an ambulance. All involved have been handed over to judicial authorities for legal processing.

Meanwhile, in the capital city of Riyadh, police detained an Egyptian woman accused of using social media to falsely offer Hajj permits.

She allegedly committed fraud by promising unauthorized access to the pilgrimage and has since been transferred to the public prosecutor for formal charges.

Source: Agencies