The Ministry of Interior continues its rigorous enforcement of regulations related to the Hajj pilgrimage, ensuring that individuals who violate these directives are barred from entering the holy city of Mecca and its surrounding sacred sites without proper authorization. The ministry emphasizes that only those with the appropriate permits are allowed to perform Hajj and is committed to detaining violators while imposing penalties on both the violators themselves and those who assist them.
According to the Ministry of Interior, individuals attempting to perform Hajj without a valid permit face substantial financial repercussions. This includes anyone caught either undertaking or attempting the pilgrimage without authorization, as well as holders of various types of visitor visas seeking to enter or remain in Mecca and the surrounding holy areas. Such individuals could face fines reaching up to 20,000 Saudi Riyals.
The ministry further detailed that penalties extend to those who facilitate such violations. For instance, individuals who apply for visitor visas for someone known to be undertaking Hajj without a permit, or who attempt to transport such visitors into Mecca, are equally liable. This includes anyone providing shelter for holders of visitor visas in locations designated for accommodation—such as hotels, apartments, private residences, lodges, and other facilities intended for pilgrims. Serious consequences await individuals who harbor or assist these unauthorized visitors, with fines potentially soaring to 100,000 Saudi Riyals.
The penalties grow harsher with each violator detected. The ministry plans to deport unauthorized pilgrims, including overstayers, back to their home countries and impose a 10-year entry ban to the Kingdom. There is also a provision for the confiscation of transportation means used to facilitate the unauthorized entry of visitor visa holders into Mecca, which would be targeted for seizure as part of the legal actions taken against the transporters, be they owners, accomplices, or co-conspirators in the violations.
The Ministry of Interior has strongly urged the public to adhere to Hajj regulations, which are designed to protect the safety and security of pilgrims, ensuring they can perform their rituals smoothly and with peace of mind. Citizens and residents are encouraged to report any violations of these laws to the designated hotlines—911 in the regions of Mecca, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and 999 in other parts of the Kingdom.
Through these measures, the Ministry is not only affirming the significance of lawful participation in one of the world’s largest religious gatherings but also reinforcing the commitment to uphold the integrity of the sanctified pilgrimage experience. The call for compliance and vigilant reporting aims to foster a safe environment, allowing the devout to fulfill their religious obligations without disruption or illicit interference, thereby maintaining the sanctity of the pilgrimage.
