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Saudi Arabia halts short-term visas for 14 countries, including Morocco, ahead of Hajj
Saudi Arabia has announced a temporary suspension of short-term visa issuance for citizens from 14 countries, including Morocco, as part of its efforts to regulate the upcoming Hajj season and prevent unauthorized pilgrimages. This measure will take effect in mid-April and continue until mid-June 2025, following the conclusion of the annual pilgrimage.
Travelers from the affected nations who currently hold valid visas may still enter Saudi Arabia until April 13 but must leave by April 29. The suspension impacts three visa types: Umrah visas, business visit visas, and family visit visas. This decision follows the tragic events of Hajj 2024, which resulted in over 1,200 pilgrim deaths, with a significant number of victims being unregistered visitors who had entered Saudi Arabia through non-pilgrimage visas.
The countries affected by the suspension include Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen. Saudi authorities have clarified that this ban does not affect pilgrims with valid Hajj permits or those seeking official Hajj visas through authorized channels.
The primary motivation behind this decision is to prevent the misuse of short-term visas for unauthorized participation in Hajj. Last year, Saudi security forces removed over 300,000 unregistered pilgrims from Mecca, including nearly 154,000 foreigners who had entered on tourist visas, as well as over 171,000 individuals based in Saudi Arabia without proper Hajj permits.
The 2024 Hajj season faced significant challenges due to extreme weather conditions, with temperatures soaring between 46°C and 49°C. The presence of unauthorized pilgrims, who lacked access to essential amenities such as lodging, transportation, and healthcare, intensified the situation and contributed to the high death toll.
Morocco's experience during the previous Hajj season was particularly affected, with official records indicating that 20 Moroccan pilgrims died, primarily from natural causes. Notably, 15% of Moroccan participants were over the age of 80. In total, Morocco sent 34,000 registered pilgrims in 2024, with 22,500 under the supervision of the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs and 11,500 managed by independent travel agencies.
According to the new regulations, April 13 marks the last day for issuing Umrah visas, after which no new visas will be granted to nationals of the listed countries until the Hajj season concludes. Saudi authorities have also warned that individuals attempting to perform Hajj without proper authorization may face a five-year entry ban. This decision is part of ongoing measures to protect pilgrims and maintain order during Hajj, following a policy issued in February that restricted travel from these 14 countries to single-entry visas valid for 30 days.
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