Saudi Arabia has put a temporary halt on issuing visas to citizens from 14 countries, including India.

This pause affects the granting of Umrah, business, and family visit visas.

The countries impacted by this decision are Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen.

Why the ban?

Authorities say the step is also aimed at stopping individuals from undertaking Hajj without proper registration. The decision is intended to prevent a repeat of last year’s Hajj tragedy, when a stampede occurred due to extreme heat and the presence of unregistered pilgrims.