Saudi Arabia Imposes Strict Health Conditions for Hajj Pilgrims

By our staff reporter Dr Ansab Ali

Riyadh: The Saudi Ministry of Health has announced a new set of medical restrictions for Hajj pilgrims this year, aimed at ensuring the safety and health of all participants during the pilgrimage.

According to Saudi authorities, individuals suffering from liver failure, liver shrinkage, or severe neurological disorders will not be allowed to enter the Kingdom for Hajj. In addition, women in the last three months of pregnancy have been barred from performing Hajj this year.

The Ministry further stated that the entry of patients with contagious or critical illnesses such as whooping cough, tuberculosis, hemorrhagic fever, and cancer has also been prohibited.

Moreover, individuals undergoing chemotherapy, biological treatments, or radiological therapies are not permitted to participate in the pilgrimage.

Saudi officials emphasized that these measures are part of broader health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and to protect vulnerable individuals during one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.