RIYADH: The Ministry of Interior has announced that heavy penalties await pilgrims who try to perform Haj next month without the necessary permits.
On its Twitter account, the ministry said that pilgrims without permits shall be punished by imprisonment for two months and a fine of SR25,000 each.
“Each pilgrim found twice to be without permits to perform Haj is punishable by imprisonment for a term of six months and a SR50,000 penalty,” the ministry said.
The ministry said that heavy penalties will also be imposed on drivers and vehicle operators who transport pilgrims without Haj permits.
The vehicles used in transporting such pilgrims will be confiscated and operators could also be charged SR100,000 in addition to imprisonment of two years.
“If they are non-Saudis, they will be deported and banned from entering Saudi Arabia after the penalty,” the ministry said.
The General Directorate of Passports, on the other hand, has begun implementing its tasks with regard to the pilgrimage season.
Suleiman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Yahya, passports director general, said the directorate had completed the preparation of trained human cadres.
“They will be supported with modern equipment to fight counterfeiting and computers developed to ensure rapid processing of pilgrims with ease.”
He urged the pilgrims to secure the necessary permits to avoid inconvenience, and issued a warning to all those who shelter or provide work to violators in the Kingdom.
According to statistics of the Public Security Agency, around 49,000 people without Haj permits were stopped in September last year from entering the holy sites in the Kingdom.
Also, 25,216 vehicles had not been given permission to enter the holy sites while 85 vehicles were impounded for various traffic violations.
Pilgrims sans permit, facilitators face heavy fines, imprisonment
Pilgrims sans permit, facilitators face heavy fines, imprisonment
Saudi inventor wins two gold medals at Mideast International Invention Fair
- Khudry was recognized for inventing a device designed to filter materials and recycle used liquids
- The innovation aims to improve efficiency in liquid purification and reuse
RIYADH: Saudi inventor Duaa Nizar Khudry won two gold medals at the 16th International Invention Fair in the Middle East (IIFME), held in Kuwait from February 8 to 11, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Khudry was recognized for inventing a device designed to filter materials and recycle used liquids, an innovation aimed at improving efficiency in liquid purification and reuse. The technology has potential applications in environmental protection, industrial processing, and water conservation, particularly in regions where sustainable resource management is critical.
A member of the Mawhiba Alumni Program, Khudry represented Saudi Arabia with the support and nomination of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), which was participating in the fair for the third time.
She received her first gold medal from the fair’s organizers and was also awarded the IFIA Best Invention Award by the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations, recognizing her innovation as one of the most outstanding entries in the exhibition.
The IIFME, organized annually by the Kuwait Science Club since its launch in 2007, is regarded as one of the region’s largest specialized invention exhibitions and a major platform for inventors to present their work to international audiences.
As a student, Khudry won first place nationwide at the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity (Ibdaa) in 2013 for the same recycling device, competing against tens of thousands of students across the Kingdom. She later obtained an official patent for the invention in 2024, strengthening its scientific and commercial potential.
She studied chemistry and is currently pursuing graduate studies in materials science and engineering under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program. Her research focuses on environmental sustainability, advanced materials, and liquid purification technologies.
