Makkah Entry Banned for Visit Visa Holders During Hajj

Post by : Elena Malik

In a move aimed at ensuring the safety and security of pilgrims, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior has imposed restrictions on visit visa holders entering Makkah during the upcoming Hajj season, which commences today and extends until June 21, 2024.

According to reports from the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the ministry clarified that visit visas do not authorize individuals to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. As a precautionary measure, the ministry strongly advises visit visa holders against traveling to Makkah during this period without obtaining specific Hajj permission, cautioning that violations may incur penalties in accordance with Saudi regulations.

To uphold the safety of authorized pilgrims, rigorous security and organizational measures are being implemented throughout the Hajj rituals.

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This year, Saudi authorities anticipate a potentially record-breaking attendance for Hajj following a surge in Umrah pilgrims during the holy month of Ramadan. Since May 9, Pakistani pilgrims have been arriving in Madinah as part of pre-Hajj flight operations. As of Tuesday, a total of 28,743 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived in Madinah via 120 flights.

Overall, around 2.5 million faithful from across the globe, including 179,210 from Pakistan, are expected to undertake the religious obligation of Hajj this year, with the pilgrimage scheduled to take place from June 14 to 19.

In addition to the new restrictions for visit visa holders, Saudi authorities had previously announced the expiry date for Umrah visas for foreign pilgrims. The validity of Umrah visas was extended from Dhul Qadah 29 to Dhul Qadah 15, requiring foreign Umrah pilgrims to depart the country before the latter date.

This decision aligns with the government's efforts to facilitate the smooth flow of pilgrims to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Furthermore, the ministry clarified that the three-month validity of Umrah visas will now commence from the date of issuance, rather than the date of entry into the kingdom, with the visa expiring no later than Dhul Qadah 15.

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