Saudi Arabia bars over 269,000 pilgrims without Hajj permits

The Saudi Arabian authorities have barred more than 269,000 persons without Hajj permits from entering the Holy City of Mecca, as part of measures to enforce pilgrimage regulations.

The country’s Ministry of Interior said the clampdown was aimed at preventing overcrowding and avoiding a recurrence of last year’s heat-related incidents, which it attributed in part to unauthorised pilgrims.

Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is expected to attract over 1.4 million participants this year. However, only pilgrims with valid permits are allowed access to the holy sites.

“There is no leniency. The pilgrim is in our sight, and anyone who disobeys is in our hands,” said Lt.-Gen. Mohammed Al-Omari during a media briefing.

The ministry said penalties of up to $5,000 have been imposed on violators, including citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia. It added that more than 23,000 residents had so far been sanctioned, while licences of 400 Hajj tour operators had been revoked for breaching regulations.

Despite the tough measures, the authorities said the scale of attempted unauthorised entries underscored the high demand for participation in the religious rites.

Hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for Muslims who are physically and financially able. The pilgrimage, which spans five days, has in recent years faced challenges from rising temperatures.

To enhance safety and monitoring, Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence said drones had been deployed this year for surveillance, crowd control and fire response.

Historically, the Hajj has been associated with safety risks, including stampedes, heat exhaustion and accidents.