Saudi Arabia Imposes Strict Regulations to Prevent the Politicization of Hajj and the Manipulation of Pilgrims

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The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has begun organizing the upcoming Hajj season by implementing strict regulations governing the work of pilgrimage offices. The ministry emphasized the prohibition of exploiting Hajj for political or sectarian purposes, and the entry of any individual into the Kingdom to commit acts that disrupt security and public order. These measures aim to prevent any incidents that could disturb the sacred rituals, with Saudi officials urging each season to focus on religious observances and warning against politicizing Hajj when the region is experiencing wars and heightened tensions.

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On Thursday, the Ministry of Hajj announced strict instructions for foreign offices following the significant confusion during the 2024 Hajj season, where many pilgrims were victims of fraud by “fake” Hajj companies that issued counterfeit Hajj permits, particularly in Egypt.

Local media reported the regulations governing the work of pilgrimage offices, with the Ministry of Hajj stressing that any office or any of its employees found violating these regulations will face recommendations for the removal of the office head or violating employees from the Kingdom, in coordination with the relevant authorities. Additionally, those individuals will not be allowed to participate in the management of pilgrimage affairs in the future if they have previously committed any violations.

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The Ministry of Hajj has indicated that the number of office members will be reduced for future seasons if the office’s performance is evaluated as below average in the last Hajj season, in case of failure to meet its duties and obligations, or if violations related to the roles of its members multiply.

The office is required to take all necessary measures to address any shortcomings in service delivery, whether caused by the office itself or by its subordinates. If the office refuses to rectify the issue, the Ministry has the right to assign someone to address the shortcomings at the office’s expense or to deduct the costs from the guarantees or funds in its electronic portfolio.

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The Ministry also confirmed that the office’s employees would be immediately referred to the competent security authorities in the Kingdom if they commit violations under their jurisdiction, and these decisions will be final and not subject to appeal before any judicial body.

In line with the regulations, the Ministry emphasized the importance of the office being fully responsible for all pilgrims coming from its country, within the framework of applicable regulations and instructions. The Ministry will determine the procedures the office must follow.

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The offices are also required to enter pilgrims’ data into the electronic system before their arrival in Saudi Arabia and to prevent them from carrying any images, books, flags, slogans, or political publications of any kind, or introducing any prohibited items into the Kingdom. They must also prevent any practices or gatherings that would disturb public order, security, public peace, or public health. The offices must work with the relevant authorities in their home countries to prevent any person from coming for Hajj through unofficial means and raise awareness of the harm this could cause to the approved pilgrims from that country, as well as those who perform Hajj in violation of Saudi regulations.

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The Ministry has prohibited the offices of pilgrims’ affairs and their employees from using camps, accommodations, and transportation designated for the service of pilgrims for any other purpose, renting them out, or allowing people other than the intended pilgrims to use or access them.

They are also prohibited from conducting business activities, acting as brokers, or receiving commissions from the parties with whom they contract or deal regarding pilgrim services. They must not participate, directly or indirectly, in any activities that disturb public security, public order, public health, or public peace in the Kingdom, such as distributing political or religious publications, participating in their distribution or printing, organizing gatherings with political objectives, displaying flags under any name or for any reason, or holding meetings with other offices of pilgrims’ affairs for any purpose, or engaging in promotional activities and printing or distributing publications for this purpose.

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The Ministry of Hajj also specified the conditions required for the accreditation of Hajj offices, noting that it is up to the Ministry to determine the number of workers in the offices, establish timelines and regulations that offices must comply with, and set the mechanisms for signing agreements and the necessary measures to address cases of service failure caused by the offices.

The regulations state that the accreditation of offices requires several key steps, starting with applying for accreditation through diplomatic channels from the official authority to which the office is affiliated each Hajj season.

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This application must include the details of the person responsible for the office and their deputy in case of absence, as well as the names of the team members and the tasks assigned to them. None of them should have diplomatic status. Additionally, the officials and employees of the pilgrims’ affairs office must be highly qualified and of good conduct, and must be connected to the electronic system in accordance with the conditions and specifications set by the Ministry for this purpose.

In June, Saudi Arabia announced the death of at least 1,301 pilgrims, 83% of whom were not authorized to perform Hajj. They had walked long distances under the scorching sun, without shelter or rest, among them many elderly and chronically ill people.

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Last Tuesday, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities decided to revoke the licenses of 36 travel agencies found to have violated the laws governing the organization of Hajj and Umrah trips. This decision was made in response to the resolutions of the pilgrims’ crisis cell, which was formed after the death of hundreds of Egyptians during this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.