From 13 April 2026 until the end of Hajj (mid-June 2026), Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended issuance of Umrah, family-visit and business visas for 14 countries — Morocco, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen — plus visa-on-arrival (for those qualifying via UK, US or Schengen visas), to stop unregistered Hajj participation and overstays. The measure was seasonal and ended with Hajj; reports presenting it as a new permanent ban are inaccurate. What it means for you: this explains why family-visit and Umrah applications from these countries were refused in spring 2026 — and the same seasonal pattern returns before Hajj 2027 (expected around 14–16 May 2027), so apply early or wait it out rather than paying ‘fixers’. Sources: Bladi.net, Hajj Reporters. Related: Saudi visa ban fact-check (Saudi Visa Ban for Pakistan, India and 14 Countries? What’s Actually True in 2026).