Saudi Arabia to jail Umrah pilgrims who overstay visa deadline of April 29
Saudi Arabia has announced it will deport or jail Umrah pilgrims violating visa rules and failing to leave the country by April 29. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed April 29 as the final departure date for all Umrah pilgrims currently in the Kingdom.
Staying beyond this date will be treated as a legal offence, subject to hefty fines, imprisonment, and deportation.
The decision is part of wider preparations for this year’s Hajj season and comes amid concerns about growing attempts by some visitors to overstay their pilgrimage visas.
“Security is a red line. The systems in place are designed to protect the safety and dignity of the guests of God and to ensure the efficiency of crowd management plans in collaboration with security, military, and service agencies,” said Director of Public Security, Lieutenant General Mohammed Abdullah Al Bassami.
Saudi authorities have repeatedly emphasised the importance of upholding the integrity of pilgrimage regulations. Overstaying or circumventing visa rules not only strains logistical and security efforts but also undermines the Kingdom’s sophisticated infrastructure—heavily reliant on artificial intelligence—to manage the flow of millions of pilgrims across holy sites.
Advanced AI-driven crowd management systems monitor density and direct movement from the entrances of Mecca to the Grand Mosque. These technologies allow real-time intervention to prevent bottlenecks and ensure safety.
Violations such as exceeding national quotas or staying beyond permitted dates can compromise the entire ecosystem, officials warned.
Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Adel Zamzami, a security expert, said the Kingdom’s embrace of smart city technology places it at the forefront of global pilgrimage logistics.
“Every effort is centred on the human being — the pilgrim. When individuals violate the rules, they threaten the precision and safety of a deeply interconnected system,” he said.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has already launched joint field campaigns across the Kingdom to apprehend violators.
Between March 27 and April 2, authorities detained more than 18,400 individuals for breaching residency, labour, and border laws. Among them, 12,995 were found violating residency laws, while over 3,500 were caught attempting to cross borders illegally.
According to legal advisor Ahmad Al Maliki, first-time offenders who overstay face SAR 15,000 ($4,000) fine and immediate deportation.
A second offense could result in a SAR 25,000 fine, three months in prison, and deportation. Repeat violations can incur fines up to SAR 50,000, six months in prison, and deportation.
Individuals or companies that harbour, employ, or transport violators also face legal penalties, including fines up to SAR 100,000, imprisonment, deportation of foreign accomplices, and the seizure of vehicles used in such acts.
Al Maliki stressed that pilgrimage service companies that fail to notify authorities about delayed departures also face tiered penalties: SAR 25,000 for a first offense, SAR 50,000 for a second, and SAR 100,000 for repeated violations.
Saudi Arabia’s Director of Public Security, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al Bassami stressed that the safety of pilgrims is a sacred responsibility. Any attempt to breach the security of the holy sites or the pilgrimage system will be dealt with decisively.
