By Saudi Arabian authorities have dismissed reports of a visa restriction on travelers from 14 countries, calling the circulating memo fake. The alleged ban had claimed that nationals from Egypt, India, Pakistan, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen, and Algeria, among others, would be denied entry.
The memo, which also listed Nigeria, Jordan, Sudan, Iraq, Indonesia, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh, falsely stated that these countries would face restrictions starting April 13. It further claimed that even travelers with valid visas would be barred from entering Saudi Arabia.
“Non-compliance may result in a five-year ban from entering KSA,” the document had warned. However, the Saudi Tourism Centre debunked the memo when contacted by Nigerian media outlet TheCable, stating that it was not an official communication.
According to Saudi authorities, the only recent travel directive relates to Hajj pilgrims. The kingdom has emphasized that tourist visa holders are not permitted to perform Hajj or enter Makkah from April 29 to June 11, 2025, aligning with the Islamic calendar.
The Saudi Hajj visa remains exclusively for religious pilgrimage and is only valid during the designated holy period. Any Muslim intending to visit the country for Hajj must apply for the appropriate visa rather than a tourist visa.
Saudi officials urged travelers to rely on official government sources for visa updates to avoid misinformation.
