Haj pilgrims who overstay could face new fines of between SR1,000 and SR3,000 and a ban on entering the Kingdom for a specific period. Maj. Gen. Abed Katib, Assistant Director of Passports for Haj and Umrah Affairs, who revealed that final touches are being put to a new regulation to curb overstaying by pilgrims, ahead of its final approval, said foreign pilgrims have to leave the Kingdom by Jan. 12. He said that after Jan. 12, the Passports Department would arrest overstayers in all cities. Those dealing with or sheltering overstayers would be penalized as well, he added. This pilgrimage season, the “No permit, no Haj” rule was strictly enforced and some 85,000 citizens and expatriate pilgrims without permits were barred from entering the holy sites. Katib denied that pilgrims without permits were let into the holy sites on Arafat Day.
