Saudi Arabia Prepares Big Fines To 10 Year Entry Ban For Violators Of Hajj Permit Regulations

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabian authorities issued announcements related to the entry ban for those who violate the Hajj permit regulations, ahead of the Hajj season 1446 Hijri or 2026.

The decisive action and severe punishment announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs of Saudi Arabia applies not only to violators of the Hajj permit regulations, but also to those who help in Mecca.

In its announcement Monday, the regulation takes effect from Tuesday to June 10, quoted from Arab News April 30.

Fines of up to 20 thousand Saudi Arabian riyals (Rp89,134,039) will be imposed on people caught committing or trying to perform Hajj without permission, and to holders of all types of visit visas who try to enter or live in Mecca and holy places during the specified period.

Meanwhile, fines of up to 100 thousand Saudi Arabian riyals (Rp445,670,197) will be imposed on anyone who applies for a visit visa for someone who has done or tried to perform Hajj without a permit, or who has entered or lived in the city of Mecca and holy places during the specified period. Fines will double for every person involved.

The same fine will apply to anyone carrying or trying to transport a visit visa holder to Mecca and holy places during the specified period, as well as for those who protect or try to protect the visa holders of visits in any accommodation, including hotels, apartments, private housing, shelters, or residential sites for pilgrims.

This includes hiding their whereabouts or providing assistance that allows them to stay. Fines will double for every individual protected, hidden, or assisted.

Separate sentences will also apply to illegal intruders who try to perform Hajj, whether residents or those who exceed the time limit, and the guilty party will be deported to their country and barred from entering Saudi Arabia for ten years.

The ministry also said related courts would be ordered to confiscate land vehicles used to transport visa holders visiting Mecca and holy places during the specified period, if owned by carriers, facilitators, or accomplices.

Authorities said the measures were part of an effort to intensify efforts to protect pilgrims at the peak of the Hajj season which will take place on June 4-9, quoted from The National.

It is known that the Hajj quota system was introduced in 1987, which was approved by member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to limit the number permitted by each country to 0.1 percent of its population.

Citing the website of the Indonesian Ministry of Religion, the quota for Indonesian pilgrims in 1446 Hijri or 2025 was 221,000 pilgrims, consisting of 203,320 regular quotas and 17,680 special hajjes.

It is scheduled that prospective pilgrims will enter the Hajj dormitory on May 1 and a day later depart gradually to the Holy Land from their respective embarkations.