Haj 2025: India Loses 40,000 Quota, Pilgrims In Mumbai Warned Against Premature Package Bookings

Muslim community groups have warned Haj pilgrims to not rush into bookings or financial transactions with private Haj tour agencies after Saudi Arabia cancelled 80% of the non-government quota for the annual pilgrimage. 

The five-day pilgrimage to the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina will start on 4 June, subject to the moon's sighting. There is panic among private tour operators who have stopped bookings because of the uncertainty over the number of pilgrims who will be able to take the trip. This year, India was allotted 1,75,025 Haj permits, or visas, including 1,22,518 under the government quota and 52,507 through private tour operators. The 80% slash in the private quota means only around 10,000 will go to private tour companies.

The total number of pilgrims is decided by the Saudi Arabian government on the basis of a country's Muslim population. Applicants who book pilgrimages through the Indian government's Haj Committee get subsidised rates and are selected through a lottery. The fees charged by the government is around Rs 3,75,000 per person. Private companies charge upwards of Rs 5,00,000 depending on the class of travel and accommodation. The slashing of the private quota could decrease the number of eligible pilgrims from India by over 40,000. The Saudi Arabian government also shut down the Haj Portal (Nusuk Portal), adding to the confusion.

Private tour companies said they are surprised at the sudden decrease in quota. "We have never seen anything like this before. It is a big shock for us," said Arafat, who runs a Jogeshwari-based tour company.Though the Saudi Arabian government has not provided any reasons for the reduction in quota, people familiar with the pilgrimage process said it could be to reduce overcrowding and the rush of pilgrims who bought tourist visas to take part in the pilgrimage. The result was that while the Saudi Arabian government issued 1.83 million Haj permits in 2024, more than 2 million arrived. This overwhelmed accomodation and commuting facilities and it is estimated that nearly 1300 pilgrims died last year due to heat and crowding. Tour operators denied they were at fault.

Apart from reducing the private quota, the Saudi government has also banned tourist visas from April 13. This means that people who do not have a Haj visa will not be able to travel to the two cities till the end of the pilgrimage. Visitors on Umrah visa - Umrah is a shorter pilgrimage that can be done during the rest of the year - will have to leave the area before April 26. The first flights for Haj from Mumbai starts on April 29.

Shams Chowdhary from the Haj Pilgrims Social Welfare Group, a trust that helps pilgrims with the preparations for the journey, said that private tour operators have been hit hard by the restrictions. "Tour companies have to block hotels and air tickets in advance. Nearly 50% of the bookings are done before Ramzan. It is a mystery why they reduced the quota by 80%," said Chowdhary.

Community groups said that until a clear announcement is made and the revised quota is officially confirmed, there is a risk of financial loss or uncertainty if packages are booked prematurely. However, tour operators said they were hoping that the Indian government negotiates with the Saudi authorities. "We have faith in the Indian Prime Minister and hope that the issue is resolved, and the quota restored," said a private tour operator.