Latest news with #HajjSecurityForces
Saudi Gazette
08-06-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Most pilgrims leave Mina after performing Hajj rituals
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — Most of the Hajj pilgrims vacated the tent city of Mina before sunset on Sunday, the second day of Tashreeq, after performing the ritual of casting stones at three Jamarat, pillars symbolizing Satan. The pilgrims, who are in a rush, are allowed to leave Mina for Makkah before sunset on the second Tashreeq day or else they will have to stay an extra day in Mina and have to pebble the devil. The pilgrims, who will stay back in Mina on Sunday night, will leave the tent city after completing the stoning ritual on Monday afternoon. After performing the stoning ritual, pilgrims, who are in a hurry, swiftly proceeded to the Grand Mosque in Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-Wida (Farewell circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba), the last obligatory ritual of Hajj. The Grand Mosque received several batches of pilgrims, who arrived from Mina to perform the Tawaf Al-Wida, before heading to visit the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah or to their home. The pilgrims were seen in a spiritually elevated and euphoric mood after completing their lifetime spiritual journey. The authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the departure of pilgrims from Mina as per a two-day schedule prepared by them so as to avoid any congestion at the Jamarat Bridge as well as to ensure their smooth movement to the Grand Mosque to perform the Tawaf Al-Wida. Although Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, concludes officially on Monday, the third day of Tashreeq, pilgrims are allowed to leave a day earlier. Pilgrims opting for early departure performed the Farewell Tawaf amid a heavy flow of worshipers at the Grand Mosque. The relevant authorities have mobilized all their capabilities to facilitate the movement of early departure pilgrims, ensuring a smooth flow within the Grand Mosque. The Hajj Security Forces at the Grand Mosque confirmed their full readiness to receive pilgrims for the Farewell Tawaf. This is part of a comprehensive security and organizational plan designed to ensure that pilgrims can perform their rituals in ease and comfort, within an atmosphere of faith, security, and safety. Support services include 400 electric carts, over 10,000 wheelchairs, and 210 smart gates to regulate entry and exit. These efforts reflect the implementation of the Saudi leadership's directives to provide the highest quality services to pilgrims and to facilitate the performance of their rituals in an atmosphere of security, comfort, and tranquility. The plan includes establishing organized mechanisms for entry and exit to and from the Grand Mosque, as well as allocating designated routes to regulate crowd movement in the courtyards surrounding the mosque and the passageways leading to mataf, ensuring the security and safety of pilgrims. The Monitoring and Control Center at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Mina was closely tracking the movement of pilgrims on the second day of Tashreeq as part of the ongoing operations to ensure smooth crowd flow and the safety of pilgrims across all movement routes. The center relied on an advanced technological infrastructure that enables real-time monitoring of crowd density indicators and data analysis. This allowed for immediate decision-making and enhances rapid response to any emergency, thereby improving the flexibility and smoothness of pilgrim movement. The center operates based on a unified operational model that integrates all Hajj-related systems, covering group movement, transportation, aviation, and even entry data from various border points. This integration provides a comprehensive view of the pilgrim's journey from arrival to the completion of rituals. It has notably contributed to reducing waiting times at air entry points to under 40 minutes, thanks to integration with flight tracking systems and improved reception preparedness. Center teams also track the movement of pilgrim buses using smart technologies that generate precise movement maps, aiding in the organization of pilgrim flow and preventing congestion along critical routes, particularly during peak hours.
Asharq Al-Awsat
07-06-2025
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Interior Ministry Arrests 17 for Transporting Individuals Without Hajj Permits
The Saudi Ministry of Interior's Hajj Security Forces apprehended 17 individuals - three expatriates and 14 citizens - for violating Hajj regulations by transporting 109 individuals without valid Hajj permits at Makkah entry points . Administrative rulings were issued by the seasonal administrative committees against both transporters and those transported, said the Saudi Press Agency. Penalties imposed included imprisonment, fines of up to SAR 100,000, public naming of violators, deportation of expatriate offenders with a 10-year re-entry ban, and legal proceedings for the confiscation of vehicles used in the violations. Individuals attempting to perform Hajj without a permit face a fine of up to SAR 20,000. The ministry urged all citizens and residents to comply with Hajj regulations to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims performing their rites.
Gulf Insider
07-06-2025
- Gulf Insider
Interior Ministry Penalizes 49 People For Transporting 197 Unauthorized Pilgrims
The Ministry of Interior has penalized as many as 49 people for violation of Hajj rules and regulations. The ministry said that the Hajj Security Forces have arrested 18 expatriates and 31 Saudi citizens at the entry points to Makkah while transporting 197 individuals who did not hold permits to perform Hajj. The ministry issued administrative rulings through the seasonal administrative committees against the transporters, accomplices, and unauthorized pilgrims. Penalties include imprisonment, fines of up to SR100,000, publicizing names of the violators in the local media at their own expense, deportation of expatriates with a 10-year re-entry ban after serving of the sentence, and legal proceedings for the confiscation of vehicles used in the violations. Unauthorized pilgrims face fines of up to SR20,000. In a related incident, Hajj Security Forces arrested 58 individuals for violating Hajj regulations by attempting to enter the city of Makkah without the required permits to perform the pilgrimage. They were referred to the competent authorities to slap the prescribed penalties. The ministry urged all citizens and residents to strictly adhere to Hajj regulations in order to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims during the performance of their rituals.
Arab News
06-06-2025
- Arab News
Saudi authorities crack down on illegal Hajj entry
MAKKAH: The Hajj Security Forces at Makkah's entrances arrested 18 residents and 31 citizens for transporting 197 individuals without Hajj permits, the Saudi Press Agency reported Friday. The Ministry of Interior issued administrative decisions through seasonal committees against the transporters, their accomplices, and the unauthorized pilgrims. Penalties include imprisonment, fines of up to SR100,000 ($26,600), public naming of violators, deportation of residents, and a 10-year re-entry ban after sentencing. The ministry also called for the confiscation of vehicles used in unauthorized transport and fines of up to SR20,000 for those attempting Hajj without a permit. In a separate incident, security forces arrested 119 expatriates holding visit visas for violating Hajj regulations by attempting to enter Makkah on foot via a desert route. All involved individuals were referred to the relevant authorities for legal action, the SPA reported. Authorities also arrested an Indonesian resident for transporting 24 residents and 23 expatriates with visit visas, attempting to enter Makkah without permits. All were referred to the competent authority. Earlier, the ministry urged full compliance with Hajj regulations to ensure pilgrim safety and reminded the public that entering Makkah without a Hajj permit from April 29 to June 10 is prohibited.
Saudi Gazette
06-06-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Interior Ministry penalizes 49 people for transporting 197 unauthorized pilgrims
Saudi Gazette Report RIYADH — The Ministry of Interior has penalized as many as 49 people for violation of Hajj rules and regulations. The ministry said that the Hajj Security Forces have arrested 18 expatriates and 31 Saudi citizens at the entry points to Makkah while transporting 197 individuals who did not hold permits to perform Hajj. The ministry issued administrative rulings through the seasonal administrative committees against the transporters, accomplices, and unauthorized pilgrims. Penalties include imprisonment, fines of up to SR100,000, publicizing names of the violators in the local media at their own expense, deportation of expatriates with a 10-year re-entry ban after serving of the sentence, and legal proceedings for the confiscation of vehicles used in the violations. Unauthorized pilgrims face fines of up to SR20,000. In a related incident, Hajj Security Forces arrested 58 individuals for violating Hajj regulations by attempting to enter the city of Makkah without the required permits to perform the pilgrimage. They were referred to the competent authorities to slap the prescribed penalties. The ministry urged all citizens and residents to strictly adhere to Hajj regulations in order to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims during the performance of their rituals.
