8 persons penalized for transporting 18 people without Hajj permits

MINA — The Ministry of Interior has penalized seven Saudi citizens and one expatriate for violating Hajj regulations and instructions by transporting 18 individuals into Makkah without valid Hajj permits. The Hajj Security Forces apprehended them at the entry points to Makkah. The ministry issued fines of up to SR100,000 against the transporters and all those involved in the violations. Fines of up to SR20,000 were also imposed on the individuals who were provided with transportation in their failed bid to enter Makkah to perform Hajj without a permit. The expatriate violators will be deported and banned from re-entering the Kingdom for 10 years after serving their sentences. The ministry referred to judicial courts the confiscation of the vehicles used to transport the violators. In a related development, the Hajj Security Forces arrested 11 residents, including Senegalese, Uzbek, Algerian, and Indonesian nationals, for violating Hajj regulations by attempting to enter Makkah via unpaved roads and mountain routes without valid Hajj permits. Legal procedures were initiated against them in accordance with regulations and instructions. The General Administration of Mujahideen urged Saudi citizens and expatriates to adhere to the regulations governing the 2026 Hajj season and to cooperate with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of the pilgrims. The directorate also called on the public to report any violations by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province and 999 in the rest of the Kingdom.