Saudi Arabia Announces Fines for Unauthorized Hajj Pilgrims, Facilitators
The Saudi Ministry of Interior has announced a series of penalties targeting individuals and facilitators who violate the requirement to obtain a permit for the Hajj pilgrimage.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the enforcement of these penalties will begin from Dhul-Qi’dah 1 and continue until Dhul-Hijjah 14.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dhul-Qi’dah and Dhul-Hijjah are the 11th and 12th months of the Islamic Hijri calendar, respectively. This period is significant as it includes both the lead-up to and the duration of the Hajj pilgrimage.
The ministry stated that individuals attempting to perform Hajj without a valid permit, or visitors entering or staying in Makkah during the restricted period, will face a fine of up to SAR 20,000 (approximately 5,332 USD).
Furthermore, anyone who applies for a visit visa for someone intending to perform Hajj without a permit—or for someone who enters or stays in Makkah and the holy sites during this period—will face a fine of SAR 100,000 (approximately 26,661 USD). The same penalty applies to individuals who transport or attempt to transport such visitors to Makkah and the holy sites.
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These fines will multiply based on the number of individuals involved, the ministry warned.
Additionally, individuals who shelter visit visa holders—whether in hotels, apartments, private homes, shelters, or designated Hajj accommodations—will also be fined. This includes concealing their presence or providing any form of assistance. The penalties will increase for each individual housed or assisted.
The ministry emphasized that illegal infiltrators attempting to perform Hajj—whether residents or visa overstayers—will be deported and banned from entering Saudi Arabia for ten years.
In cases where vehicles are used to transport visit visa holders into Makkah or the holy sites during the restricted period, the ministry said it will request the courts to confiscate the vehicles, provided they are owned by the transporter, facilitator, or accomplices.
In a related development, NAN reports that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims who have paid for the 2025 Hajj will commence on May 9.
According to a statement by NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Fatima Sanda Usara, a total of 43,000 Nigerian pilgrims have completed payments for the pilgrimage.
