Planning to visit Mecca this week? You’ll need a valid permit to enter. Starting Monday, April 13, residents and expatriates without official permits are not allowed to enter Mecca. Saudi authorities confirmed that only people with proper documentation can pass through checkpoints.
Entry is limited to:
- Individuals with a valid Hajj permit
- Residents with a Mecca-issued residency ID
- Workers holding permits for the Holy Sites
Without the permit, entry is not possible, even for Saudi residents.
Mecca is preparing for larger numbers of pilgrims in the coming years. The largest Sofitel hotel in the world will open in 2026, with two towers and 1,141 rooms and suites, many facing the Great Mosque.
Another project, King Salman Gate, will add space for up to 900,000 worshippers near the Great Mosque.
