Saudi Arabia has issued fresh guidelines for Hajj pilgrims entering the country.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has issued the rules for Pilgrims coming in to the Kingdom and has shared tips on prohibited items and customs rules.
The Ministry said pilgrims carrying more than SR60,000 ($16,000) in cash or jewellery must declare their items to authorities.
A message from the Ministry on social media said: “Please avoid bringing large amounts of cash and valuable items with you when traveling to the kingdom.
“This will help to make the process faster and easier for you”.
Ministry advice for Hajj pilgrims said it was essential to fill out customs declarations in the following cases:
- When carrying local or foreign currencies worth more than SR60,000
- When carrying gold bars or jewellery worth more than SR60,000
- When carrying goods in commercial quantities with a value of more than SR3,000
- When carrying items that are prohibited from being imported or exported, such as antiquities
- When carrying items subject to Excise Tax
Failure to fill in customs declarations can expose pilgrims to legal accountability, said the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
The ministry also identified prohibited luggage for Hajj travellers.
In a separate social media post, it identified prohibited luggage for plane passengers as:
- Unwrapped and tied luggage
- Fabric-wrapped luggage
- Plastic bags
- Excess weight
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a pilgrimage every adult Muslim must make at least once in their lifetime if they have the means.
Saudi Arabia confirmed earlier this year that it will no longer impose age and travel limitations and that the number of visiting pilgrims will return to pre-pandemic levels.
In 2019, an estimated 2.5 million Muslims performed Hajj in Saudi Arabia. (ArabianBusiness.Com)
