Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior announced on April 25, 2025, a stringent penalty of 100,000 Saudi Riyal ($26,661) for individuals violating Hajj visa regulations, targeting unauthorized pilgrims and their facilitators during the 2025 pilgrimage.
The fine, effective from June 2 to June 20, 2025, applies to citizens, residents, and visitors entering Mecca without a valid Hajj permit, as part of efforts to manage the 2 million expected pilgrims, per the Saudi General Authority for Statistics. Violators also face deportation and a 10-year re-entry ban, per The Times of India.
The policy addresses overcrowding and safety risks, following the 2024 Hajj, where 1,301 pilgrims died, 83% of whom were unauthorized, per Saudi health officials. Unauthorized pilgrims, often using tourist or work visas, lack access to designated camps, medical facilities, and transport, exacerbating heatstroke risks in 50°C temperatures. The fine extends to transporters and employers aiding violators, with penalties including six-month imprisonment and vehicle confiscation. Saudi authorities reported 300,000 illegal pilgrims intercepted in 2024, straining security resources.
Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars, requires a quota-based visa, with Nigeria allocated 95,000 slots for 2025, per the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria. The $26,661 fine, equivalent to N42 million at N1,600/$1, is a significant deterrent in countries like Nigeria, where 60% live below the poverty line, per World Bank data. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims to increase pilgrimage capacity to 30 million annually by 2030, but strict enforcement reflects lessons from past stampedes, like the 2015 Mina disaster killing 2,400.
The kingdom has deployed 120,000 security personnel and AI-powered crowd monitoring for 2025, per The Times of India. Pilgrims must register via the Nusuk platform, with costs at $4,000-$6,000, excluding travel. The policy has drawn criticism for limiting access for low-income Muslims, but Saudi officials defend it as essential for safety and order. The fine underscores Saudi Arabia’s balancing act between religious obligation and logistical control, with global implications for Muslim communities.