In a major new development, Saudi Arabia has announced sweeping changes in its visa regulations, barring multiple-entry visas for travellers from as many as 14 countries, including India, who will now be granted access to the country only on a single-entry visa.
According to reports, the changes in Saudi Arabia visa rules, which came into effect on February 1, 2025, have been implemented to prevent travellers from these 14 nations from unauthorisedly performing the Hajj pilgrimage by arriving in the desert kingdom on long-term visit visas.
Saudi Arabian officials say that unauthorised Hajj pilgrims have emerged as a major challenge in recent years, resulting in overcrowding which has led to tragedies, such as the deaths of over 1,200 pilgrims who died due to extreme heat and overcrowding last year.
As per officials, the Saudi government has banned multiple-entry visas for travellers from Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen. Additionally, Riyadh banned the one-year multiple-entry visa for tourism, business, and family visits from these 14 countries for an indefinite period.