Egyptian consulate in Jeddah solves problem of 102 stranded citizens in Saudi Arabia

CAIRO- 5 December 2024: the Egyptian Consulate General in Jeddah successfully resolved the issue of 102 Egyptian citizens who had been stranded outside the Expatriates Department in Medina. 

The issue arose due to the expiration of their "transit" visas, which affected those who had arrived after performing Umrah (small pilgrimage).

Through coordinated efforts with Saudi passport authorities, the Consulate General worked tirelessly to facilitate the return of the stranded citizens, whose travel had been delayed by approximately 24 hours.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on all Egyptian citizens intending to travel to Saudi Arabia on a transit visa to ensure the visa's validity and adhere to the allowed stay period. 

Travelers are also urged to pay close attention to flight schedules when booking tickets to and from Saudi Arabia, to avoid legal complications, including the loss of travel tickets and the need to purchase new ones.

The Ministry highlights that, according to Saudi regulations, travelers are personally responsible for ensuring their flight bookings align with the validity of their visas, whether the tickets are purchased independently or through a travel agency. 

Violating the terms of Hajj, Umrah, or any other types of visit and transit visas can result in severe penalties, including a ten-year ban on entering the Kingdom for violations of Hajj and Umrah visas, and a three-year ban for violations of visit or transit visas.