- By Ajeet Kumar
- Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:13 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Saudi Arabia visa ban news: In a major setback for Indians, Saudi Arabia has temporarily stopped issuing visas to people from 14 countries until mid-June 2025. The major development came ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage. This includes visas for Umrah (a smaller pilgrimage), business, and family visits. According to a report by ARY News, preventive action was taken in view of the huge crowds during the Hajj pilgrimage and discourage vistors from sneaking in without proper registration. However, an official word from the Saudi government is still awaited.
Why does Saudi Arbia invoke visa ban before hajj?
Earlier last year, more than a thousand devotees were killed after too many unregistered pilgrims caused a deadly stampede in the heat. Besides overcrowding, the media report citing its diplomatic sources termed "illegal employment" as the major factor behind the move. Travellers using business and family visas reportedly engaged in unauthorised work, violating visa rules and causing labour market disruptions.
As per the media reports, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman told the government to tighten visa rules and directed it to keep a proper check before granting a visa. The last day to apply for an Umrah visa this year is April 13, 2025, and no new ones will be given out until Hajj is over. As per the report, countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are on the ban list.
To help pilgrims follow the rules, Saudi officials made a digital guide for Hajj and Umrah in 16 languages. They also warned that anyone caught staying illegally during Hajj will be banned from entering Saudi Arabia for five years and fined 10,000 Saudi Riyal (SAR).
List of Countries banned
1. India
2. Pakistan
3. Bangladesh
4. Egypt
5. Indonesia
6. Iraq
7. Nigeria
8. Jordan
9. Algeria
10. Sudan
11. Ethiopia
12. Tunisia
13. Yemen
Over 1000 died in 2024 Hajj
More than 1,000 people died during the hajj last year as extreme heat hammered the nearly two million who took part in the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. Most of the dead were Egyptians. A total of 236 Indonesians died, according to Indonesian government data, while the External Affairs agency said 98 Indian citizens died during hajj.