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Saudi tightens Hajj 2026 entry rules banning visit visa holders for holy city access
India
Published on 24 April 2026
Visit visas now blocked and Umrah stays paused
Saudi Arabia has tightened entry rules for Hajj 2026, barring people holding visit visas from accessing the holy cities and requiring official permits instead. Umrah visas are currently suspended. Authorities say the Hajj permit will be mandatory for entry to Mecca as Saudi moves to control crowds and improve safety during the pilgrimage season.
- Visit visa holders are barred from holy city access for Hajj 2026
- Official permits are required to enter the designated holy areas
- Umrah visas are suspended for now
- Hajj permit is mandatory for entry to Mecca
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times