Saudi Arabia Sets Minimum Age for Hajj [Updated]

Update: Saudi authorities have withdrawn the previously announced minimum age restriction for Hajj 2026, allowing children above 12 years to perform the pilgrimage.

The update reverses the earlier directive that set the minimum age at 15 years, which had affected travel plans of several applicants. Authorities have also confirmed that visas rejected under the previous age policy will now be reprocessed.

Saudi Arabia has set 15 years as the minimum age for pilgrims performing Haj this year, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony said on Saturday.

In a letter, the ministry cited Saudi directives stating that no flight departing for Saudi Arabia will be allowed to carry any pilgrim under the age of 15 years as of May 27, 2026 (Zilhaj 9, 1447 AH).

The restrictions will take effect from 12am on May 3, 2026. The ministry said that in cases where group members are unable to travel due to the new policy, they may opt to cancel their Haj journey.

It added that the Saudi government has assured a full refund of deposited amounts to all affected pilgrims. The ministry directed all Haj directorates, airlines, and the Haj Organisers Association of Pakistan (HAOP) to immediately implement the age restriction.

Separately, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said no pilgrim under 15 years of age will be allowed to board Haj flights, and such visas will be treated as cancelled under the policy.

The inaugural Haj flight for 2026 under the Route to Makkah initiative departed on April 19, while the facility has been expanded this year to Lahore in addition to Karachi and Islamabad, and is expected to facilitate more than 95,000 pilgrims.