 "MEA clarifies no new travel restrictions on Indians visiting Saudi Arabia amid Haj visa row")
What happened
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed reports of new travel restrictions on Indian nationals going to Saudi Arabia, stating that no fresh notifications have been issued by the Saudi government. Temporary visa restrictions during the Haj season are standard and will end once the pilgrimage concludes.
Tell me more
- The MEA confirmed that Saudi Arabia has not imposed any new travel bans specifically targeting Indians.
- Temporary restrictions on short-term visas during Haj are routine to manage the influx of pilgrims and avoid overcrowding.
- Media reports earlier suggested Saudi Arabia had suspended block work visas for about a dozen countries, including India; however, this suspension has been in effect since May 2025.
- The visa suspension is linked to security and administrative concerns, especially managing pilgrims and immigration during the busy Haj period.
- The temporary ban on certain visas will remain until 30 June 2025.
- Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring every physically and financially capable Muslim to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.
- India’s quota for Haj pilgrims in 2025 is set at 175,025, agreed upon in a January 2025 bilateral meeting between India’s Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Haj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts- The quota system, established by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in 1987, limits pilgrims from each country to 0.1% of its population to ensure manageable numbers.
- The pilgrimage concludes with Eid al-Adha, a major Islamic festival commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son.
The voices
“The Saudi Government has not issued any notification on this matter. As a matter of practice, during the Haj season, temporary restrictions are imposed on short-term visas to prevent overcrowding, which will end with the conclusion of Haj,” MEA’s official sources.
The context
Haj is a deeply significant religious event for Muslims worldwide, drawing millions to Mecca annually. To ensure safety and manage the massive influx, Saudi Arabia routinely imposes temporary visa restrictions during the pilgrimage season. India, with one of the largest Muslim populations, receives a substantial quota of pilgrims under international agreements.
The current temporary suspension of certain visas, including block work visas, is part of routine administrative and security measures during this period and is not a new restriction targeting Indian travellers. The MEA’s clarification aims to reassure Indian pilgrims and travellers that normal travel will resume after the Haj season ends.
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