Saudi Arabia Suspends Visas for Nigeria, Egypt, and 12 Other Countries Ahead of 2025 Hajj Over Safety Concerns

Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended Umrah, business, and family visit visas for citizens of 14 countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, and India, in preparation for the 2025 Hajj season.

According to reports from ARY News, the suspension will remain in place until mid-June 2025, following the conclusion of the Hajj pilgrimage. However, Umrah visa holders can still enter Saudi Arabia until 13 April 2025. The authorities say this measure is necessary to prevent unregistered pilgrims from attempting the Hajj.

The Saudi foreign ministry explained that the suspension is part of efforts to streamline travel procedures and manage the number of pilgrims. Recently, many individuals have overstayed their visas, which has caused safety risks. There are also concerns about the misuse of business and family visit visas. Some people reportedly use Hajj as a means to enter the Kingdom and work illegally.

The 14 affected countries are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen, and Morocco. Individuals travelling for official business or family visits will not be affected, provided they comply with the terms of their visas.

This decision follows the tragic 2024 Hajj season, where at least 500 pilgrims died, many due to extreme heat. A medical professional confirmed the names on the list with AP News. Many of the deceased did not have official Hajj permits. Unregistered pilgrims could not access essential services, such as air-conditioned tents and medical care, making the pilgrimage even more dangerous.

The Saudi authorities also reported that 400,000 unregistered pilgrims participated in the 2024 Hajj, with Egypt contributing a large number. According to the government, suspending visas is a step towards improving the organisation of the pilgrimage and ensuring that only officially registered pilgrims are allowed to participate.

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