Overview
- The Interior Ministry, which activated a high-security phase on Monday, April 13, limited entry to Hajj permit holders, Makkah residents, or workers with official passes.
- Issuance of Umrah permits on the Nusuk app will pause from April 18, and operators say foreign Umrah pilgrims have been told to leave by that date, with some outlets reporting the suspension runs until May 31.
- Security forces are running permanent and mobile checkpoints that scan digital IDs through Absher, Muqeem and the Tasreeh system to verify permits in real time.
- Authorities warned that violators will be turned back or face legal action, with reports of deportation and multi‑year re‑entry bans after April 18, and hotels risk fines up to SR50,000 and possible license suspension for housing guests without Hajj permits.
- Officials expect roughly two million pilgrims for rites in late May, and recent regional tensions that disrupted flights have added pressure to keep travel and crowd flow tightly controlled.