- Saudi Haj portal reopens for Indian pilgrims as the Saudi government has announced an additional 10,000 slots for Indian citizens performing Haj in 2025. This move comes as a relief to many applicants who were previously waitlisted.
Saudi Arabia has reopened the Hajj gateway in response to India’s diplomatic efforts, enabling an extra 10,000 Indian pilgrims to travel through the holy site with commercial tour companies.
Saudi Arabia has granted the Indian government’s formal request, permitting private Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs) to reopen the Hajj (Nusuk) Portal in order to serve an extra 10,000 Indian pilgrims. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) on Tuesday, this allows for the expansion given the current quota in Mina, the holy site that is the focus of the Hajj trip.
Following the announcement that the Saudi Haj portal reopens for Indian pilgrims, the ministry issued urgent directives to CHGOs to execute all processes without delay. However, officials revealed that some CHGOs failed to meet critical deadlines set by Saudi authorities, despite multiple reminders. These lapses included delays in finalizing essential contracts related to Mina camps, transportation, and accommodation—jeopardizing the smooth accommodation of the additional 10,000 Indian pilgrims.
Thousands of pilgrims now face uncertainty after Saudi Arabia canceled a block of zones in Mina that had previously been assigned to Indian commercial tour companies.
After the intervention by the Indian Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Saudi Hajj Ministry reconsidered its decision, and the Saudi Haj portal reopens for Indian pilgrims with an updated quota. The permit was reactivated, allowing an additional 10,000 pilgrims to be added under the private operators’ quota—marking a significant relief for many awaiting confirmation.
Saudi Haj Portal Reopens for Indian Pilgrims: Hajj Policy 2025 and Government Efforts
As part of the updated framework where the Saudi Haj portal reopens for Indian pilgrims, the Haj Policy 2025 outlines that the Hajj Committee of India will manage 70 percent of the pilgrim quota, while 30 percent will be handled by private travel agents. For 2025, Saudi Arabia has allocated a total of 1.75 lakh (1,75,025) Hajj seats to India, ensuring broader access and streamlined arrangements for Indian pilgrims.
MoMA Secretary Chandrashekhar Kumar and Joint Secretary CPS Bakshi recently visited Jeddah to oversee the Hajj preparations in order to expedite and improve the procedures for the Indian pilgrims. Additionally, from January 11 to 14, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who is in charge of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, traveled to Saudi Arabia.
As the Saudi Haj portal reopens for Indian pilgrims, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju actively engaged in key diplomatic efforts to ensure a smooth pilgrimage process. As part of his schedule, he attended the Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition, signed the Bilateral Agreement for Hajj 2025, and held crucial discussions with Saudi counterparts focused on streamlining Hajj services for Indian pilgrims.
UPCOMING HAJJ PILGRIMAGE
According to current estimates, the Hajj pilgrimage this year will take place between June 4 and June 9, 2025, depending on the moon sighting that occurs at the start of Zil-Hajj, the final month in the Islamic calendar.
This development underscores the importance of effective collaboration between private travel operators and government agencies to ensure a smooth and successful pilgrimage experience. With the Saudi Haj portal reopens for Indian pilgrims, especially to accommodate an additional 10,000 devotees, timely coordination and transparent processes have become more crucial than ever.
