Fact-check: Is Saudi Crown Prince Salman Sponsoring 750,000 Muslims 2025 Hajj?
Claim: A message circulating widely on social media, especially on WhatsApp claims that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is offering free Hajj sponsorship for 2025. The scheme allegedly covers transport and accommodation for 750,000 Muslims who are unable to afford the pilgrimage.
The message includes a registration link and urges people to apply immediately, claiming that successful applicants are already receiving passports.
The text accompanying the text reads as follows:
”Salam alaikum, The Applications for the Mohammed Bin Salman Free Hajj Sponsorship 2025 Is Available.
”This scheme is open to all muslims who for financial reasons are not in a position to afford hajj this year.
”Over 750,000 muslims will be given the opportunity to do hajj(Free transport and accomodation).
”Application has begun and those that have applied have started getting their passports.
Verification: To verify the accuracy of this claim, PRNigeria’s fact-check team conducted a keyword search and social media engagement on the claim across various platforms and discovered that the message started trending on 18 Feb 2025.
Further findings revealed that the official Saudi government website, and reputable local or international news outlet showed no mention of any such free sponsorship scheme. No credible media reports or government statements confirm the claim.
Similarly, PRNigeria analyzed the suspicious website link which was used in making the viral claim and discovered that the website is a phishing site designed to steal users’ personal information. Unlike legitimate Saudi government portals, the website lacks security certifications, has an unusual domain name unrelated to Saudi authorities, and was recently created which is a common indicator of online scams.
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PRNigeria’s investigation equally found that this same fraudulent message has become an annual routine and has been shared under different website names. In past instances, the scam followed an identical pattern, claiming the Saudi Crown Prince was offering free Hajj sponsorship, directing applicants to fake websites, and stealing their personal data.
Additional inquest shows that the fraudulent website falsely claims that over 68,000 applicants have been approved for the program. Also, supposed “beneficiaries” of the scheme are listed with fabricated testimonials, none of which can be verified through independent sources.
PRNigeria confirmed that official Hajj sponsorship programs are only administered through the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and recognized Islamic organizations. Any genuine sponsorship or subsidy program would be announced on government platforms, not through random WhatsApp messages or unverified websites.
However, additional probings uncovered a media report in January, 2025 on the Saudi Arabia embassy in Abuja which hosted a farewell ceremony for 20 Nigerians Muslims who were selected for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme for Umrah 2025.
Background on Saudi Arabia and Hajj Tradition
Hajj is a fundamental religious duty for Muslims and is managed under strict regulations by the Saudi government. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, oversees all aspects of the pilgrimage, including visas, logistics, and accommodations. While certain government-sponsored programs exist for limited groups, such as scholars, guests of the King, and some low-income pilgrims, these initiatives are publicly announced through official channels.
There is no historical precedent of a single entity sponsoring 750,000 people for Hajj.
Additionally, all official Hajj applications are processed through government-approved agencies and embassies. Any claim of a large-scale sponsorship program outside of these official channels is highly suspicious.
Conclusion: The claim that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is sponsoring 750,000 Muslims for the 2025 Hajj is false. PRNigeria’s fact-check team confirms that this is a recurring scam designed to collect personal information through a fraudulent website.
Verdict: PRNigeria therefore concludes that this claim is entirely false and part of a well-organized scam.
By PRNigeria
