Public Warned Against Temptation of Queue-Free Hajj, Officials Once Arrested in Saudi

The government is appealing to the public not to be swayed by offers to depart for Hajj without queuing, as this could lead to fraud given the strict rules enforced by the Saudi Arabian authorities. “The public should not be easily tempted by promises of fast tracks. Pilgrimage visas, visit visas, or other documents outside the provisions cannot be used for Hajj,” said the Consul General of Indonesia in Jeddah, Yusron B. Ambary, in his statement in Jakarta on Monday (6/4/2026). This issue of non-procedural Hajj has become a serious concern for Saudi authorities. Besides violating rules, illegal Hajj poses a high risk to safety. Prominent cases of non-procedural Hajj occur from time to time. In 2024, a regional official was arrested by Saudi security officers for allegedly intending to perform Hajj using a pilgrimage visa and bringing a group. In 2025, three Indonesian citizens were found stranded in a desert area while trying to enter the Mecca region. One person died due to dehydration. These three Indonesian citizens were pilgrims intending to perform Hajj without going through official channels. In addition, throughout 2025, the Directorate General of Immigration successfully prevented the departure of thousands of people suspected of heading to the Holy Land without official visas from various departure areas in Indonesia. Yusron stated that the only visa that can be used for Hajj is the Hajj visa. Meanwhile, if the public uses visas other than the Hajj visa, they will automatically be rejected and could be deported with accompanying punishments. Besides failing to worship, those caught illegally face sanctions in the form of large fines, up to a ban on entering Saudi Arabia (blacklist) for 10 years. “Only the Hajj visa stipulated by the Saudi authorities is accepted,” said Yusron. The Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah has recorded various cases where pilgrims were arrested for using fake Hajj attire, fake identity cards, to visas with data not matching the holder’s passport. “The public should not focus on the package name, but ensure the certainty of the Hajj visa, the legality of the organiser, and the suitability of the procedure with official government rules,” said Yusron.