Udaipur, April 14, 2025: A disturbing news out from Saudi Arabia says that the country may cancel zones in Mina that were earlier allotted to private tour operators for 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. This cancellation, if formalised, could impact the fate of around 52,000 pilgrims from India who have been booked for the Hajj pilgrimage this year through private tour operators.

As per sources, the Secretary of the Minorities Department of the Indian Government was in Saudi to oversee the deliberations on the proposed cancellation. Till the time of publishing this news, there has been no positive development in the matter, leaving the fate of nearly 52,000 pilgrims who have signed up for Hajj through private operators, hanging in the balance...

As per a new circular issued by the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), only 20 per cent of the private quota booked earlier will be given initial confirmation. This means that 80 per cent of those who signed up for the pilgrimage under the Combined Haj Group Organisers (CHGOs) face the risk of not being allowed on the pilgrimage.

The decision follow the closure of the Nusuk portal of the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah. It is an online platform for pilgrims through which the tour operators are required to conduct and conclude their contracts and services. Owing to payment delays and unfinished service agreements, the Saudi government has cancelled Mina Zones 1 and 2, which had been assigned to CHGOs. The remaining zones - 3, 4, and 5 - have also been held up.

There are two ways Indian pilgrims go on the Hajj pilgrimage - either through the Hajj Committee of India (HCoI) or through private tour operators known as Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs). The HCoI is a statutory body which comes under the administrative control of the MoMA.

The MoMA has held the HGOs responsible for this Saudi decision saying the private operators had failed to complete the formalities on time because of which Saudi Arabia had cancelled availability of the zones allocated to the Indian pilgrims travelling through private operators.

Citing this decision as “disturbing news”, the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief, Mehbooba Mufti has urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to intervene in the matter.

“Disturbing news emerging from Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate that 80% of India’s private Haj quota has been cut abruptly,” she wrote on X, adding, “This sudden decision is causing immense distress for pilgrims and tour operators across the country. Urge the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately intervene by taking up this matter with the Saudi government to seek a resolution.”

Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of the Union Territory, has also expressed deep concern about cancellation of Hajj slots for around "52,000 Indian pilgrims', many of whom have already completed payments.

His office said on X, “I urge Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar to engage with the Saudi authorities at the earliest to explore a resolution in the interest of all affected pilgrims. This measure is crucial to ease the distress of thousands hoping to undertake the sacred pilgrimage this year.”

Meanwhile, on the follow-up by the MoMA, the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah has agreed to open the Nusuk portal but for a short and unspecified time to allow GHGOs to upload service contracts, etc. It, however, remains unclear as to how many tents or zones will finally be available. The Saudi Ministry has said that allocations will be made only on a real-time, first-come-first-serve basis. Therefore, CHGOs have been told to act urgently.

The Hajj pilgrimage this year is expected to be held from June 4 to 9, 2025.

With Media Inputs