Saudi Arabia, May 03: Saudi Arabia has lifted its ban on pilgrims under 15 years of age for this year’s Hajj, restoring the earlier policy that allows children aged 12 and above to undertake the annual pilgrimage.
The restriction, introduced recently, had barred those below 15 from performing Hajj, impacting thousands of families planning to travel together. With the latest decision, pilgrims aged 12 and above are once again eligible and can apply afresh, including reprocessing visas that were earlier rejected under the age restriction.
The decision was communicated to all participating countries by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which also instructed aviation authorities to permit travel for eligible pilgrims within the revised age bracket.
Officials said the move effectively reverses the earlier directive and reinstates the previous eligibility norms. “The previous policy — allowing children above 12 years — is now back in effect. However, visas rejected under the 15-year restriction will need to be reprocessed,” the ministry said, according to a report by Arab News.
The development is expected to bring relief to families, particularly those who had postponed or altered their travel plans due to the restriction. The Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, draws millions of Muslims from across the world to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina each year.
