Hajj 2025: Pilgrims’ arrivals reach 890,000 with 15,900 illegals detained
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports announced on Friday, May 23, the arrival of 890,883 pilgrims from abroad for the Hajj season 1446 AH.
They arrived through all international air, land, and sea ports.
According to the directorate, the vast majority of pilgrims, totalling 846,415, entered the Kingdom via airports, while land ports facilitated the arrival of 41,646 pilgrims, with 2,822 pilgrims arriving through sea routes.
So far, a total of 15,936 individuals have been detained for violating migration laws and instructed to contact their countries’ embassies or consulates to obtain proper travel documentation.
Some 1,359 were told to make booking arrangements for their departure, and 11,566 were repatriated, the Ministry of Interior has disclosed.
A weekly inspection campaign conducted by the Ministry of Interior between May 15 and 21 on compliance with residency, labour, and border security laws showed that 13,118 violations had occurred, Saudi Press Agency reported.
About 8,150 of the violations were residency-related, while 3,344 related to border security, and 1,624 had to do with labour laws.
About 1,207 individuals, of whom 61% were Ethiopians, 37% were Yemenis, and 2% were of other nationalities, attempted to cross the border into the Kingdom illegally, while 94 people were arrested for attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.
Some 13 people involved in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators were arrested.
The ministry noted that a total of 21,872 expatriates, made up of 20,616 men and 1,256 women, are currently undergoing procedures for enforcing regulations.
The Ministry of Interior has clarified that all types of visit visas, with the exception of Hajj visas, do not authorise the visa holder to perform Hajj.
It also noted that individuals holding any type of visit visa who enter or remain in Makkah and the holy sites from Dhu Al-Qi’dah 1 to Dhu Al-Hijjah 14 will face a fine of up to SAR20,000.
Additionally, offenders will face deportation and a 10-year entry ban into the Kingdom.
The ministry urged everyone to comply with Hajj regulations and instructions, which are intended to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims and help them perform their rituals with ease.
It also encouraged the public to report any violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, or 999 in the rest of the Kingdom.
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