Up to Dh50,000 fine, jail term for illegally transporting Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia will imprison and impose fines on those who are found transporting Haj pilgrims without a permit, Al Arabiya reported, quoting the Kingdom’s General Directorate of Public Security.

Haj pilgrims in the UAE will begin their journey on June 19 and return on July 3. Saudi Arabia has laid out an extensive operational plan for Haj this year, and has not imposed restrictions on the number of pilgrims.

If anyone is caught transporting pilgrims illegally for the Haj pilgrimage, it could attract heavy fines and imprisonment. The General Directorate of Public Security, on Tuesday, said that such violators could get six months of a prison sentence and a fine of up to 50,000 Riyals (Dh48,957).

The directorate also urged people to report any such violation to the police.

The fine could increase depending on the number of people who are caught without a Haj permit. Vehicles used to transport pilgrims without a permit will be confiscated by the authorities and the expatriates will be deported and banned from entering Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom has barred the entry of residents into Mecca without required permits from May 15. It has directed authorities to allow only those who work at the holy site and have entry permits.

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