Access to Mecca Limited for Hajj Pilgrims and Special Permit Holders Ahead of Hajj Season

Saudi Arabia - Saudi authorities on Monday restricted access to Mecca to only Hajj pilgrims, special permit holders and local residents, ahead of this year's Hajj pilgrimage.

The new rules apply to people who do not have a work permit or a hajj permit, and are not residents of Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The permits will be issued through a certain online portal, with this year's Hajj season starting in late May, while temporary Umrah permits have been suspended.

"Starting Monday, April 13, residents who want to enter Mecca must obtain official permission from the authorities and those who do not have the permit will be denied entry," reported the state media, launching The National (14/4).

"The exemption applies to residence permit holders issued in Makkah, those who have a pilgrimage permit, and those who have a work permit for the holy places issued electronically through the Absher Individuals platform and the Muqeem portal, which is technically integrated with the Tasreeh platform," he continued.

"The issuance of Umrah permits through the Nusuk platform will be suspended for Saudi citizens, GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) citizens, residents within the kingdom and other visa holders, starting Saturday, April 18," he added.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj said that violations of these instructions will be subject to sanctions in accordance with applicable laws.

Meanwhile, authorities in Mecca are preparing for the peak of this year's Hajj season, which is expected to be filled with about two million pilgrims from various parts of the world.

Preparations for this year's hajj are overshadowed by the threat of renewed conflict between Iran and the United States, as the two sides seek to extend a ceasefire that ends next week into a more permanent deal.

The negotiating efforts made in Islamabad, Pakistan at the weekend were deadlocked and failed to reach an agreement.

The war, which also involved Israel and lasted for 40 days before a temporary ceasefire was announced last week, disrupted air traffic across the region, with people abroad unable to reach Saudi Arabia and other countries in the usual numbers.