Saudi Arabia Imposes Temporary Visa Ban for Hajj Safety

Saudi Arabia has temporarily imposed a visa ban on citizens from 14 countries, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This ban applies to business, family, and Umrah visas and is aimed at preventing people from attending Hajj without proper registration.

The visa ban will last until mid-June, which is when this year’s Hajj is over. From April 13 onwards, no more Umrah visas will be issued. This decision follows last year’s tragic Hajj season, where over 1,000 people died, many of whom were unauthorized pilgrims. To avoid similar incidents, Saudi authorities have decided to enforce stricter visa regulations.

The countries affected by this temporary ban are Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Yemen.

According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, this move will make travel more manageable and improve security during the Hajj. They also warned that anyone found violating the rules by staying in Saudi Arabia illegally could be banned from entering the country for up to five years.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia has launched a digital guide in 16 languages to help pilgrims navigate the Hajj and Umrah process. The country is taking these steps seriously to ensure the safety and well-being of all pilgrims, as it remains committed to controlling the number of people attending the Hajj from each nation.