Hajj 2026: Relief for Pilgrims as Saudi Arabia restores previous Age Policy
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
RIYADH – Saudi authorities brought relief for thousands of families after a day of confusion and concern, as Saudi Arabia first imposed a minimum age limit of 15 for pilgrims, only to reverse the decision within hours. The sudden policy shift had briefly barred younger children from travelling and led to visa cancellations, but authorities quickly restored the earlier rule allowing those aged 12 and above to perform Hajj. With visas now set to be reprocessed and flights already underway under the Route to Makkah initiative, the swift U-turn has eased tensions for many pilgrims preparing for the sacred journey. Saudi Arabia reversed its earlier decision to set the minimum age for Hajj pilgrims at 15, sparking relief and confusion among thousands of prospective pilgrims in Pakistan. Over the weekend, Ministry of Religious Affairs announced that Saudi authorities imposed a new rule barring children under 15 from performing Hajj, with the restriction set to take effect from midnight on May 3, 2026. The ministry had assured affected families that full refunds would be provided. Shortly after, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) enforced the directive, stating that no pilgrim below 15 would be allowed to board Hajj flights and that such visas would be considered cancelled. Ministry issued fresh notification confirming that Saudi Arabia had reversed the decision. Officials clarified that the earlier instructions should now be treated as withdrawn. Under restored policy, children aged 12 and above are once again eligible to perform Hajj. Authorities also confirmed that visas previously rejected due to the short-lived 15-year restriction will now be reprocessed. 2026 Hajj operation is already underway, with the first flight under the Route to Makkah initiative having departed on April 19. This year, the program has been expanded to include Lahore alongside Karachi and Islamabad, and is expected to facilitate more than 95,000 pilgrims. Saudi Arabia bans children under 15 fr