Summary Saudi Arabia withdraws its under-15 Hajj restriction, restoring eligibility for pilgrims aged 12 and above and reprocessing previously rejected visas.
RIYADH (Web Desk) – Saudi Arabia has reversed its recently announced restriction barring pilgrims under the age of 15 from performing Hajj, restoring the previous eligibility criteria that allow children aged 12 and above to undertake the pilgrimage.
The decision, confirmed on Saturday by Pakistan’s aviation authorities and Hajj officials, comes just ahead of the policy’s scheduled enforcement on May 3.
The earlier directive, issued by Saudi authorities, had prohibited entry for all pilgrims below 15 years of age for Hajj 2026. It also led to the cancellation of visas issued to underage pilgrims, triggering concern among families preparing for the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
In a statement, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) confirmed that the Kingdom has now withdrawn the restriction and reinstated the earlier policy framework. Under the revised position, children aged 12 and above are once again eligible to travel for Hajj, bringing immediate relief to affected applicants.
The PAA further stated that Hajj visas previously rejected under the 15-year age cap will now be reprocessed in line with the updated directive. This move is expected to facilitate the participation of a number of pilgrims whose travel plans had been disrupted by the short-lived restriction.
The policy reversal was also confirmed by Saudi Arabia’s Directorate General of Hajj, citing instructions from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The development marks a swift turnaround, as the restriction had only been communicated hours earlier through official channels.
Previously, authorities had instructed that no flight departing for Saudi Arabia would be permitted to carry pilgrims under the age of 15 on or after May 27, 2026, corresponding to 9th Zulhijjah 1447, the Day of Arafat – a central component of the Hajj pilgrimage. The directive had effectively disqualified all under-15 pilgrims from participating in the religious rites.
In response to the earlier announcement, Saudi officials had also outlined provisions for full refunds of deposits paid by affected pilgrims. The abrupt policy shift had raised logistical challenges for Hajj operators and families, many of whom had already finalised travel arrangements.
Hajj flight operations from Pakistan commenced on April 18, marking the beginning of the country’s annual pilgrimage movement. The inaugural flight departed from Karachi, carrying 160 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia via a private airline.
Under Pakistan’s official Hajj scheme for 2026, approximately 119,000 pilgrims are expected to travel to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has detailed that 67,230 male pilgrims will perform Hajj under the government programme.
Additionally, 51,846 female pilgrims are set to undertake the journey as part of the same scheme, reflecting a substantial participation of women in this year’s pilgrimage cohort. The large-scale operation involves coordinated flight schedules, accommodation arrangements, and logistical planning to ensure the smooth transit of pilgrims.
