Riyadh (TDI): Saudi Arabia has imposed a new restriction for Hajj 2026, banning entry for pilgrims under the age of 15.
Under the directive issued by the Government of Saudi Arabia, the restriction will take effect from May 3, with airlines instructed not to allow any pilgrim below 15 years of age to board Hajj flights.
Authorities clarified that the rule applies to anyone who will be under 15 on May 27, 2026, corresponding to the Day of Arafat.
Officials said that visas issued to underage pilgrims have been cancelled as part of the new policy.
The Saudi government has assured that all affected pilgrims will receive full refunds of their payments, easing concerns among families impacted by the decision.
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Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has directed all Hajj directorates, private tour operators, and airlines to implement the restriction without delay, Geo News reported.
Hajj flight operations from Pakistan began earlier in April, with the first group of pilgrims departing from Karachi. This year, around 119,000 Pakistani pilgrims are expected to perform Hajj under both government and private schemes.
Of these, more than 67,000 male pilgrims and over 51,000 female pilgrims are scheduled to travel to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
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Authorities have not provided detailed reasons for the restriction, but such measures are generally linked to safety, crowd management, and health considerations during one of the world’s largest annual gatherings.
