This is Saudi Arabia’s latest announcement.
Hajj 2025: Saudi Arabia has dealt a third major blow in the past two weeks. First, it temporarily imposed a visa ban on 14 countries including India to avoid disruption during Umrah and Hajj. Following that, last week it ordered foreigners with valid visas who had arrived in Saudi Arabia for Umrah to leave the country by April 29. Generally, people would go for Umrah and stay there illegally for an extended period in order to return after performing Hajj. This often led to a large crowd during Hajj in Mecca.
Now, several media reports have indicated that the Saudi government has taken another strict measure by suddenly reducing India’s private Hajj quota by up to 80 percent.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti have expressed deep concern over the 80 percent cut in the private Hajj quota by Saudi Arabia. Both leaders have urged Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar to contact Saudi officials as soon as possible to resolve this issue in the interest of all affected pilgrims. However, no official statement has come from the central government regarding this matter.
The office of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, i.e., CMO, has written on the microblogging site X, “The news of over 52,000 Indian pilgrims’ Hajj slots being canceled is extremely concerning, many of these pilgrims have already made full payments.” He further wrote, “I urge the honorable Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar to urgently contact the Saudi authorities to find a solution in the interest of all affected pilgrims. This step is crucial to alleviate the distress of thousands who are hoping to undertake the sacred pilgrimage this year.”
The reported cancellation of Hajj slots for over 52,000 Indian pilgrims, many of whom have already completed payments, is deeply concerning. I urge Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar to engage with the Saudi authorities at the earliest to explore a resolution in…
— Office of Chief Minister, J&K (@CM_JnK) April 13, 2025
The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has also raised this issue. She stated in a post on the social media platform X, “Disturbing news is coming from Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate that there has been a sudden 80% cut in India’s private Hajj quota. This decision is causing significant trouble for Hajj pilgrims and tour operators across the country.”
Disturbing news emerging from Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate that 80% of India’s private Haj quota has been cut abruptly. This sudden decision is causing immense distress for pilgrims and tour operators across the country.
Urge the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately…— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) April 13, 2025
Congress General Secretary Syed Nasir Hussain also commented on this issue, expressing his surprise that the Haj ‘slots’ for 52,000 Indian pilgrims were canceled ‘despite payment’.
This year, a Haj quota of 175,025 Indian pilgrims was established. In January of this year, India signed a Haj agreement with Saudi Arabia, ensuring a Haj quota for 175,025 Indian pilgrims. In India, the Haj journey is either conducted by the Indian Haj Committee, which operates under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, or by authorized private tour operators, referred to as Haj organizing groups.
