Over 40,000 Indian Pilgrims to Miss Hajj 2025; Here's Why

More than 42,000 Indian pilgrims planning to attend Hajj this year won’t be able to go after Saudi Arabia slashed India’s private pilgrim quota. Only 10,000 people will be allowed to travel through private tour operators, a significant drop from the 52,000 slots originally given to them.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Omar Abdullah (@omar_abdullah_jk)

Why the sudden cut?

Saudi authorities say that many Indian private Hajj operators missed the deadlines to confirm essential arrangements like accommodation, transportation, and Mina camp bookings. By the time these contracts were supposed to be finalized, available space in Mina—a key stop for pilgrims near Mecca—was already filled. With the Hajj scheduled from June 4 to June 9, there was no room left to adjust last-minute requests.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah also cited safety concerns and overcrowding risks, especially under extreme heat conditions in Mina, where space is limited.

Government intervention brings partial relief

After backlash and political pressure, India’s Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) stepped in. Saudi Arabia eventually agreed to reopen its Hajj registration platform (Nusuk Portal) and allowed 10,000 Indian pilgrims under the private operator group, far less than the original count.

MoMA confirmed that India’s total Hajj quota for 2025 stands at 175,025. Of this, over 122,000 pilgrims are under the main government-managed quota, while the remaining was meant for private tour operators. Over 800 private operators were merged into 26 Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs) to streamline the process.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), through the Haj Committee of India is managing arrangements for 122,518 pilgrims in the current year under the main quota. All necessary preparations—flights, transport, Mina camps, accommodation, and services—were completed per Saudi…

— Ministry of Minority Affairs (@MOMAIndia) April 15, 2025

Political leaders raise concerns

The sharp drop in allowed pilgrims triggered responses from Indian politicians. Jammu and Kashmir’s Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti both urged the central government to act fast, calling the issue a major concern for pilgrims who had already paid and prepared for the trip.

They called it a “disturbing” and “deeply concerning” situation, especially for families who had planned the once-in-a-lifetime journey.

Hajj travel rules tighten globally

Saudi Arabia is also tightening overall rules this year. Pilgrims without proper registration from at least 14 countries—including India—may face visa restrictions. The move is part of crowd control measures ahead of the massive annual pilgrimage.

The Indian government says it is still in talks with Saudi authorities to potentially secure more spots before the final arrangements close. But for now, over 40,000 people won’t make the journey in 2025.

This article was previously published on saudimoments. To see the original article, click here