Cairo urges Egyptian Umrah pilgrims to depart Saudi Arabia by 29 April to avoid penalties

CAIRO – 24 April 2025: Cairo has called on Egyptian Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia to comply with the Kingdom’s departure regulations, which require Umrah visa holders to leave before April 29 to avoid legal consequences ahead of the 2025 Hajj season (1446 AH).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Wednesday, emphasizing that Umrah pilgrims who do not exit the Kingdom by this deadline will face significant penalties imposed by Saudi authorities.

These include a fine of SAR 50,000 (approximately LE 680,000) and a potential six-month imprisonment under Saudi law, in addition to extradition to their home countries.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has established a fine of SAR 100,000 for tourism companies associated with any stranded expatriates if they fail to report these individuals' inability to leave, with fines increasing based on the number of unreported cases.

Additionally, visitors are prohibited from entering Makkah from April 23 to June 11, including those residing in the country, except for individuals holding Hajj permits, residents with permits issued by Makkah, and workers in Makkah with special authorization.

Family visit visa holders are permitted entry into the Kingdom, with no specific restrictions on them, aside from the general ban on entering Makkah from April 23 to June 11.

As for transit visas, these have been available only on Saudi Airlines, Flynas, and Flyadeal, and no official ban has been issued regarding their use, the ministry said.

Transit visa holders may enter through any port or airport in the Kingdom, except for King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah. They must adhere to the specific rules for this visa type, including a maximum validity period of 96 hours from the time of entry, and are required to continue their journey to a final destination in a third country.

Saudi Arabia has not imposed a ban on entry to the Kingdom for holders of Schengen and US visas. However, they are still prohibited from entering Makkah during the ban period from April 23 to June 11.

Attempting to enter Makkah from anywhere within the Kingdom may result in accountability and deportation, the ministry warned.