In anticipation of next week’s hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia is escalating its efforts to prevent unregistered worshippers from participating, following a tragic incident last year where hundreds of pilgrims died due to severe heat.

The measures include frequent raids, drone surveillance, and widespread text message warnings aimed at identifying and deterring unauthorized individuals attempting to join the crowds in Mecca and its surrounding areas.

The central message, “No hajj without a permit,” is being broadcast extensively through a nationwide campaign, appearing in shopping centers, on billboards, and across various media channels.

Last year, extreme heat contributed to the deaths of 1,301 pilgrims, most of whom were unregistered and lacked access to essential amenities such as air-conditioned tents and transportation, as temperatures reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125.2 degrees Fahrenheit).

According to an official involved in organizing the hajj, who requested anonymity, “As the end of last season, we realised the biggest challenge is preventing unauthorised pilgrims from undermining the success of the hajj season.”

The hajj, a central pillar of Islam, is a mandatory pilgrimage for all Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.

Official permits are distributed to countries via a quota system and then allocated to individuals through a lottery system.

The high costs associated with obtaining official permits make the unofficial route, which is considerably cheaper, an appealing option for many.

Saudi officials reported that 83% of those who died during last year’s hajj did not possess the required permits. Forecasters predict temperatures may reach up to 44C next week.

Increased Security Measures

To identify unregistered pilgrims,Saudi authorities have deployed a new fleet of drones to monitor entry points into Mecca.

Security forces have also conducted raids on numerous apartments suspected of housing unauthorized pilgrims.

An Egyptian engineer residing in Mecca, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that his residence had been raided multiple times in recent weeks.

“Police officers in uniform came to my home twice and asked to see my and my wife’s residency permits,” he told AFP.

“Almost everywhere, we’re being asked to show residency or work permits in Mecca. The security presence is unprecedented.”

“Almost everywhere, we’re being asked to show residency or work permits in Mecca. The security presence is unprecedented.”

The issue of unauthorized pilgrims has grown more prominent as Saudi Arabia relaxed its visa policies as part of broader economic reforms aimed at attracting more tourists and business travelers.

It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of individuals have been using family and tourist visas, instead of the specific hajj visa, to enter the country each year.

Stricter Regulations and Penalties

Saudi Arabia is now implementing measures to address the issue at its source, including restricting multiple-entry visas for citizens of several countries as January.

Family and tourist visas have also been suspended for nationals of over 10 countries,including Egypt,Pakistan,India,Bangladesh,and Jordan.

According to Umar Karim,a Saudi affairs expert at the University of Birmingham,authorities previously focused on “deterring people but not stopping them” from arriving before hajj.

“Saudi authorities have seen that once these people are inside the kingdom, stopping them from physically entering Mecca is a tough task even if a huge number of security officials are deployed,” he added.

For the past month, access to Mecca has been limited to individuals holding work and residency permits.

Many residents of Mecca have had to send their family members without proper visas out of the city.

Pilgrims arriving for umrah, a similar pilgrimage that can be performed throughout the year, have also been required to depart.

Fines for performing an unauthorized hajj have been doubled to 20,000 Saudi riyals ($5,333), with offenders facing a 10-year ban from the country.

Individuals found assisting or harboring unauthorized pilgrims may face fines of up to 100,000 riyals ($26,666).

The official stated,”All of this is aimed at ensuring that Mecca is reserved exclusively for authorised pilgrims during the Hajj season.”

Mecca residents have reported a noticeable decrease in crowds compared to previous years, according to AFP.

However, officials announced on Tuesday that over a million pilgrims have already arrived in Saudi Arabia for the hajj.

The high number of deaths during last year’s hajj highlighted the dangers of extreme heat, with 2024 being declared the hottest year on record by the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

While the timing of the pilgrimage, based on the lunar calendar, will eventually shift to the cooler winter months, this respite will be temporary.

A 2019 study in Geophysical research Letters indicated that due to climate change and the hajj’s timing, heat stress for pilgrims will surpass the “extreme danger threshold” between 2047 and 2052, and again from 2079 to 2086.