Watch: Saudi Arabia deploys drones to catch illegal pilgrims during Hajj 2025
Jail time, deportation, and bans await those entering Makkah illegally
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia has launched aerial surveillance using drones to detect and intercept unauthorised pilgrims attempting to enter Makkah, in a bold step to ensure permit compliance during Hajj 2025.
This year’s campaign, under the banner “No Hajj Without a Permit,” marks an unprecedented level of tech-driven enforcement by the Kingdom.
The General Directorate of Public Security released footage showcasing drones equipped with high-resolution cameras monitoring remote desert paths and highways. In one scene, a suspicious vehicle is tracked in real-time. Coordinates are immediately relayed to patrol units, leading to the swift arrest of the undocumented pilgrims onboard.
قوات أمن الحج .. تقنيات حديثة لتطبيق أنظمة وتعليمات الحج وضبط المخالفين.#لا_حج_بلا_تصريح pic.twitter.com/2gE3uKIyfr
— الأمن العام (@security_gov) May 22, 2025
Hajj 2025: Fines and penalties
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has made it clear: violations won’t go unpunished. Individuals attempting to perform Hajj without an official Nusuk Card face fines up to SR20,000. More severe penalties apply to those who facilitate such violations – fines reaching SR100,000 (Dh98,000), imprisonment, deportation for foreigners, and bans of up to ten years.
????| دوريات الأمن بالعاصمة المقدسة تقبض على (2) من المقيمين لارتكابهما عمليات نصب واحتيال بنشر إعلانات حملات حج وهمية ومضللة بتوفير سكن ونقل للحجاج داخل المشاعر المقدسة.#لا_حج_بلا_تصريح pic.twitter.com/eG2UUE71jy
— الأمن العام (@security_gov) May 24, 2025
In a recent crackdown, authorities arrested 12 people – five Saudi nationals and seven residents – at Makkah’s entry points for transporting 33 undocumented pilgrims. Seasonal committees swiftly handed down penalties, including naming violators publicly and banning non-Saudis from re-entry after deportation.
No permit, no Hajj
All holders of visit visas – tourism, family, or business – are categorically barred from performing Hajj. Anyone found misusing these visa types faces harsh penalties, including immediate deportation. The law is clear: no permit, no pilgrimage.
Except for Hajj visa.. Visit visas of all types and names do not entitle their holder to perform Hajj. #No_Hajj_Without_a_Permit pic.twitter.com/swaIbNaSau
— الأمن العام (@security_gov) May 24, 2025
Security authorities are urging the public to report suspected violators. Emergency hotlines 911 (in Makkah, Medina, Riyadh, and Eastern Province) and 999 (rest of the Kingdom) remain active throughout the Hajj season.