Fines amounting to SR 10,000 (264.91 USD) will be imposed on Saudi citizens as well as visitors and expatriates who attempt to reach Makkah without holding a valid Hajj visa.
The recent decision has been confirmed through a statement provided by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism, VisaGuide.World reports.
Through a statement, the Ministry recalled that holders of visit visas of all types are not eligible to perform Hajj in line with the regulations and instructions prevailing in Saudi Arabia.
The Ministry emphasized that all those caught without a Hajj permit within the holy city of Makkah, the Central Haram Area, the Holy Sites of Mina, Arafat as well as Muzdalifah, the Haramain train station in Rusayfah, and other centers will be subject to the new penalties.
Recently the Ministry announced that it tightened the rules against violators, stressing that the cost of fines will nearly double reaching more than SR 100,000 in case the violation is repeated. In addition, expatriates among the violators risk being deported from Saudi Arabia to their home countries and being banned from reaching the country again.
In addition, penalties have also been introduced for those transporting violators of Hajj regulations.
All persons that take such actions will be subject to imprisonment for up to six months and also fines of SR50,000. Among the penalties are also demanding confiscation of the vehicles used to transport the violators of the law, as well as deportation of the violating transporter if they are an expatriate serving the jail term and payment of fine.
The Ministry has also emphasized that the fines will be increased in line with the number of violators who were provided with transportation.
The recent decisions by the Ministry have been taken in an effort to facilitate the Hajj pilgrimage that for this year is set to happen between June 14 and June 19.
Over 300,000 Unregistered Pilgrims Banned from Entering Mecca
Recently, authorities in Saudi Arabia have banned the entry of more than 300,000 unregistered pilgrims from entering Mecca, ahead of the preparations for the Hajj pilgrimage beginning June 14.
Such measures from Saudi Arabian authorities come in a bid to manage the massive crowds expected for this pilgrimage.
Based on a report from the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), a total of 153,998 internationals on tourist visas instead of Hajj visas who traveled to Mecca have been turned away.
Besides, a total of 171,587 people based in Saudi Arabia but not residing in Mecca have also been removed from the city due to a lack of proper Hajj permits.