Saudi Arabia Warns Against Fake Hajj Offers and Encourages Use of Official Channels
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia warned individuals planning to perform the Hajj pilgrimage about misleading advertisements and fraudulent offers, urging them to only engage with official channels. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah emphasized that the rites of Hajj can only be carried out after obtaining a “Hajj visa” issued by the relevant authorities in coordination with specialized offices in 80 countries.
Direct booking of Hajj packages is available through the official “Nusuk Hajj” platform, which caters to pilgrims from approximately 126 countries. The ministry also stated that the “electronic route” on the official ministry website and the Nusuk app are the only approved channels for pilgrims residing in Saudi Arabia, whether they are nationals or expatriates. It stressed that offers from unofficial sources are “deceptive” and should not be regarded as valid.
To facilitate the pilgrimage and ensure its smooth conduct, the ministry has established a multilingual support service, available 24/7, through a dedicated Pilgrims Center. This center can be contacted via the unique local number (1966), the international number (+966920002814), or by email at [email protected].
As part of the preparations for the 2025 Hajj season, the ministry has set the entry deadline for Umrah pilgrims as Sunday, April 13, 2025, with the departure deadline on April 29. It warned that any stay beyond these dates would be considered an offense liable to legal penalties. Unreported overstays could result in fines of up to 100,000 Saudi Riyals (approximately $27,000), along with legal action against those responsible.
