RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has imposed strict restrictions on medically unfit pilgrims, including Pakistanis, for Hajj 2026 and has introduced a deportation policy for those found unwell after arrival.
Under the new rules, any pilgrim deemed medically unfit will be sent back to their home country, and in cases of policy violations, the cost of repatriation will be borne by the pilgrim.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, action will also be taken against doctors who issue fitness certificates to unfit pilgrims.
The ministry said the Saudi Ministry of Health has set mandatory medical conditions for all pilgrims intending to perform Hajj in 2026.
Individuals suffering from kidney diseases, including those on dialysis, will not be permitted to perform Hajj.
The Saudi Ministry of Health has also barred patients with severe heart conditions who are unable to endure physical exertion. Restrictions have additionally been placed on those suffering from lung and liver diseases.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs noted that the Saudi government has also prohibited pilgrims with severe neurological or psychological disorders, weak memory, dementia, major disabilities, and cancer from undertaking the pilgrimage.
Elderly individuals suffering from advanced age-related conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, are also barred.
Pregnant women and patients with whooping cough, tuberculosis, or viral haemorrhagic fevers will likewise not be allowed to perform Hajj 2026.
The ministry stated that medical officers will be authorised to stop any unfit individual from travelling before departure. Saudi monitoring teams will verify the authenticity of fitness certificates upon arrival, and only pilgrims who meet the basic health requirements will be allowed to proceed to the Hajj sites.