- Saudi Arabia warns Umrah pilgrims that overstaying visas aft April 29 volition effect successful fines, imprisonment, oregon deportation arsenic portion of preparations for Hajj season
- Authorities emphasise that violating visa rules compromises information and assemblage absorption efforts, with AI-driven systems playing a cardinal relation successful pilgrim safety
- First-time offenders look fines of SAR 15,000 and deportation, portion repetition violators whitethorn incur heavier fines, imprisonment, and the seizure of assets
Saudi Arabia has issued a stern informing to Umrah pilgrims, stating that anyone who overstays their visa beyond the acceptable deadline of April 29 volition look deportation oregon imprisonment.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed that the last day for each Umrah pilgrims to depart the Kingdom is April 29, aft which violations volition beryllium treated arsenic a ineligible offence, with terrible penalties, including hefty fines, jailhouse time, and deportation.

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This determination is portion of broader preparations for the upcoming Hajj season, amidst increasing concerns astir immoderate visitors attempting to overstay their pilgrimage visas.
Lieutenant General Mohammed Abdullah Al Bassami, Director of Public Security, said:
“Security is simply a reddish line. The systems successful spot are designed to support the information and dignity of the guests of God and to guarantee the ratio of assemblage absorption plans successful collaboration with security, military, and work agencies."Ensuring Security and Logistical Integrity
Saudi authorities person been emphasising the request to uphold the integrity of pilgrimage regulations.
Overstaying oregon attempting to bypass visa rules can compromise some the Kingdom's logistical operations and information efforts.
With millions of pilgrims arriving annually, the Kingdom relies connected precocious artificial quality (AI) to negociate the travel of radical astatine beatified sites, peculiarly astatine the Grand Mosque successful Mecca.
AI-powered assemblage absorption systems show the question of pilgrims successful real-time, directing question and preventing overcrowding. These technologies guarantee that the pilgrimage acquisition remains harmless and orderly.
“Every effort is centred connected the quality being—the pilgrim. When individuals interruption the rules, they endanger the precision and information of a profoundly interconnected system,” explained Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Adel Zamzami, a information expert.The usurpation of residency laws oregon exceeding nationalist quotas tin disrupt this delicate system, Saudi officials warned.
Severe Penalties for Violators
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has already initiated tract campaigns crossed the Kingdom to apprehend violators.
Between March 27 and April 2, much than 18,400 individuals were detained for breaching residency, labour, and borderline laws. Of these, implicit 12,995 were caught violating residency laws, and much than 3,500 were arrested for attempting to transverse borders illegally.
Legal advisor Ahmad Al Maliki portion outlining the penalties for violators. said:
"First-time offenders who overstay volition look a good of SAR 15,000 (approximately $4,000) and contiguous deportation."A 2nd offence could effect successful a SAR 25,000 fine, 3 months of imprisonment, and deportation."Governor approves N2.1 cardinal subsidy for intending pilgrims
Legit.ng had earlier reported that the politician of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed, had approved N2.1 cardinal as a 2024 Hajj fare subsidy.
This came aft NAHCON accrued the 2024 Hajj fare by N1.9 million, and galore intending pilgrims who were incapable to conscionable with caller outgo deadline demanded a refund of their money.
Following Bala's move, the state’s 2,290 intending pilgrims volition present person a subsidy of N959,000, amounting to 50 per cent of the increment by the Muslim body.
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Source: Legit.ng