​Saudi Arabia arrests Indian National among others for unauthorised Hajj transportation

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has announced several arrests and penalties related to illegal Hajj transportation, ahead of this year’s pilgrimage season. Authorities detained individuals for transporting people without official Hajj permits, reinforcing the Kingdom’s strict regulations for the pilgrimage.

On Tuesday, Hajj Security Forces arrested an Indian resident for transporting 22 people who held only visit visas and lacked official Hajj permits. The accused has been referred to the competent authorities and may face fines, deportation, and other legal actions, as per a report by Gulf News.

In a separate action, officials arrested 12 expatriates and 8 Saudi citizens for similar violations. They were caught transporting 60 individuals at Mecca’s entry points who were attempting to perform Hajj without the required permissions.


Administrative decisions were issued against all those involved– including drivers, accomplices, and unauthorized passengers. The Ministry stated that punishments could include imprisonment, fines of up to 100,000 Saudi riyals, vehicle confiscation, expatriate deportation, and a 10-year re-entry ban after serving their sentence.

According to the report, the ministry urged all citizens and residents to comply fully with official instructions to preserve the sanctity and order of the pilgrimage.

Officials emphasized that these measures are in place to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of Hajj. The Ministry continues to monitor and act against any attempts to bypass pilgrimage regulations.