Moroccan Consulate Issues Urgent Advisory on Saudi Hajj Restrictions

Doha – The Moroccan Consulate General in Jeddah has issued an urgent advisory to Moroccan citizens regarding entry and residence regulations in Saudi Arabia during the upcoming Hajj season.

The diplomatic mission detailed several strict measures implemented by Saudi authorities that require full compliance to avoid severe penalties.

“Holders of Umrah visas are prohibited from entering Saudi territory starting April 13, 2025. Those already in the country before this date must leave Mecca and Saudi territory completely by April 29,” the consulate warned in its statement.

The advisory emphasizes that family visit visa holders, while permitted to enter the kingdom, cannot travel to Mecca between April 23 and June 11.

The consulate further clarified that tourist visa holders have no authorization to enter Mecca during the restricted period, with violations subject to “legal accountability and immediate deportation.”

Transit visas remain available exclusively through Saudi airlines (Saudi Airlines, Flynas, and Adel), with passengers limited to a 96-hour stay from entry and required to continue to a third destination without delay.

Saudi authorities have established hefty penalties for violations. “Saudi authorities have issued a decision imposing a fine of 50,000 Saudi riyals on anyone who fails to leave the kingdom after their Umrah visa expires, in addition to imprisonment for up to six months followed by mandatory deportation,” the statement noted.

Travel companies that fail to report violators face fines of 100,000 Saudi riyals per case.

The Moroccan Consulate urged citizens to adhere to these regulations to maintain their legal status and avoid potential prosecution by Saudi authorities, noting Moroccans’ reputation for respecting laws during religious seasons.

These restrictions are part of broader measures by Saudi Arabia, which has temporarily suspended issuing short-term visas for citizens of 14 countries, including Morocco.

The suspension affects Umrah visas, business visit visas, and family visit visas from mid-April until mid-June 2025, following the conclusion of the annual pilgrimage.

The decision follows the tragic events during Hajj 2024, when over 1,200 pilgrims died, with more than half being unregistered visitors who had entered on non-pilgrimage visas.

Saudi security forces removed more than 300,000 unauthorized pilgrims from Mecca last year, including nearly 154,000 foreigners who had entered on tourist visas.

Besides Morocco, the visa suspension applies to Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen.

The restrictions do not affect pilgrims with valid Hajj permits or those obtaining official Hajj visas through authorized channels.

During the 2024 Hajj season, Morocco sent 34,000 registered pilgrims, with 22,500 under the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs’ supervision and 11,500 managed by independent travel agencies.

Twenty Moroccan pilgrims died during the pilgrimage due to natural causes, with 15% of Moroccan participants being over 80 years old.

Saudi authorities have warned that individuals attempting to perform Hajj without proper authorization may face a five-year entry ban.

The measures aim to protect pilgrims and maintain order following last year’s challenging conditions, when temperatures reached between 46°C and 49°C.