Hajj 2025: Over 269,000 Unauthorised Pilgrims Barred from Mecca

Saudi Arabian authorities have barred more than 269,000 individuals lacking Hajj permits from entering the holy city of Mecca, officials said on Sunday, ahead of the annual Islamic pilgrimage.

At a press briefing in Mecca, officials stated that 269,678 people without proper documentation were stopped from accessing the city, amid growing concerns over unauthorised pilgrimages contributing to overcrowding and safety risks, Associated Press reported.

Authorities have also imposed penalties on over 23,000 Saudi residents found violating Hajj regulations and have revoked the licences of 400 Hajj companies. These measures are part of a broader effort to maintain strict control over access and logistics during the pilgrimage.

“The pilgrim is in our sight, and anyone who disobeys is in our hands,” said Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Omari, during the media briefing, as quoted by AP. He reiterated that fines up to $5,000, as well as deportation and other penalties, apply to those caught attempting to perform the Hajj without a valid permit.

According to Saudi regulations, only individuals with official Hajj permits are allowed to participate, even if they are year-round residents of Mecca. The crackdown reflects the Kingdom’s resolve to prevent a repeat of previous years, where unregistered pilgrims were blamed for adding to congestion and heat-related casualties.

The Associated Press noted that government officials have cited the presence of unauthorised participants as a contributing factor to last year’s fatalities during the pilgrimage, which took place amid searing summer temperatures.

Currently, approximately 1.4 million registered pilgrims are in Mecca, with more expected to arrive in the coming days. In an effort to modernise crowd control and enhance safety, Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence has introduced drones for the first time to monitor pilgrims, conduct surveillance, and even extinguish fires during the Hajj, according to AP.

The Hajj pilgrimage, which lasts five days and involves a series of complex religious rituals, has historically drawn over two million participants annually. It has also been marred by fatal stampedes, heatstroke deaths, and other accidents, particularly when crowd numbers exceed safe limits.