KSA: Saudi Arabia has announced stringent medical regulations for Hajj 2026, imposing a comprehensive ban on seriously ill individuals and introducing a deportation policy for those who reach the kingdom in an unfit condition. According to the Saudi Ministry of Religious Affairs, any pilgrim deemed medically unfit will be immediately repatriated at their own expense. The ministry also cautioned that strict action will be taken against doctors who issue fitness certificates to ineligible applicants.
The Saudi Ministry of Health released detailed medical guidelines outlining conditions that automatically disqualify prospective pilgrims. Individuals with kidney diseases, including those undergoing dialysis, will not be permitted to perform Hajj. Heart patients who cannot endure physical exertion are also barred under the new rules.
Restrictions extend to people suffering from chronic lung or liver illnesses, severe neurological or psychiatric disorders, dementia, weak memory, or significant physical disabilities. Elderly individuals with severe age-related conditions — including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s — have also been declared ineligible.
Pregnant women and those diagnosed with infectious illnesses such as whooping cough, tuberculosis, or viral haemorrhagic fevers have been prohibited from travelling. Cancer patients are similarly disallowed from participating in Hajj 2026.
To enforce the new regulations, the Ministry of Religious Affairs stated that medical officers will screen pilgrims before departure and stop unfit individuals from boarding. Saudi monitoring teams will verify the authenticity of all medical certificates upon arrival, ensuring that only those meeting essential health requirements are allowed to proceed to the holy sites.
