Saudi Arabia Bans Children from Hajj Amid Safety Concerns; Thousands of Pakistani Pilgrims Affected by Payment Error

Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its decision to ban children from participating in Hajj this year, a measure first announced in February 2025. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stated that the restriction aims to manage the increasing crowd size and safeguard children from the risks posed by extreme heat during the pilgrimage.

Meanwhile, over 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims under the private Hajj scheme are now unable to perform Hajj despite Pakistan receiving an additional quota of 10,000 pilgrims this year. The issue arose when a significant amount of funds designated for Hajj expenses was mistakenly transferred to the wrong bank account instead of the official account of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj.

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The error was discovered too late, preventing private tour operators from meeting the required payment deadline. In response, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs submitted a formal appeal to Saudi authorities, requesting that affected pilgrims be allowed to proceed with their pilgrimage this year. The ministry also pledged stricter compliance with future rules and deadlines.

The appeal emphasized the emotional distress caused by the situation, particularly for elderly pilgrims, many of whom had been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to perform Hajj.