Saudi Arabia has announced that the country has taken two important decisions regarding Hajj 2025.
As announced by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the country has decided to ban children from Hajj 2025, no longer permitting pilgrims to bring their children with them to the holy site, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to the Ministry, this decision has been taken in an effort to ensure the safety of children and safeguard them from risks that can arise from overcrowding during the Hajj pilgrimage.
This step has been taken to ensure the safety and well-being of children and to mitigate any potential harm during the Hajj pilgrimage.
Additionally, the Ministry clarified that registration for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage will be on a first-time first-serve basis.
As News 18 explains, registration for Hajj 2025 has already begun. Pilgrims are able to select a package of their desire through the Nusuk app, with domestic pilgrims having the option to pay for their package in three installments.
Saudi Arabia Will Grant Only Single Entry Visas to Nationals of 14 Countries Starting February 1
In addition to banning pilgrims from bringing their children to the Hajj 2025, Saudi Arabia has also decided to change its visa rules for a number of countries.
Starting February 1, 2025, Saudi Arabia will only grant single-entry visas to nationals of 14 countries. The countries affected by the decision are as follows:
- Algeria
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- India
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Morocco
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Sudan
- Tunisia
- Yemen
By modifying the visa rules for nationals of the above-mentioned countries, Saudi Arabia authorities said that the country aims to put an end to the practice of undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage without authorization.
News 18 notes that a large number of foreign nationals who hold multiple-entry visas enter the territory of Saudi Arabia during the Hajj pilgrimage and move on with their pilgrimage without undergoing the registration process.
This leads to the pilgrimage official sites experiencing overcrowding, causing inconveniences for those who have already registered and the authorities.
Under the new rule adopted by the Saudi authorities, nationals of the 14 countries will now be issued visas that remain valid for a period of 30 days. Since their visa is a single entry, as soon as they leave the territory of Saudi Arabia, the document will no longer be valid.