Saudi Arabia has changed its earlier decision about the minimum age for people going for Haj. The government had previously announced that only those who are 15 years or older would be allowed to perform Haj.
However, this rule has now been reversed. The authorities have brought back the old policy, which allows children who are 12 years old and above to take part in the pilgrimage.
Officials also shared that any visas which were rejected under the earlier age restriction will now be processed again. This means that families whose applications were affected by the sudden change will get another chance without needing to apply from the start.
When the earlier rule was introduced, it caused concern among many families who were preparing for Haj. Some people had already made plans, booked arrangements, and were ready to travel.
The government had also said that those affected would receive refunds if their applications could not be accepted. Now, with the updated decision, many of these issues are expected to be resolved.
This change brings relief to a large number of families who were hoping to perform Haj together this year, including younger members who meet the revised age limit. It also helps reduce confusion and stress caused by the short-term policy change.
At the same time, Saudi authorities continue to support the Route to Makkah program. This initiative helps pilgrims from different countries complete their travel and immigration processes more easily before they arrive in Saudi Arabia. Cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad are included in this facilitation system.
