Ethiopian nationals have been restricted to travel to Saudi Arabia, after the latter announced major changes to its visa policy, set to come to effect on April 13, 2025.
The kingdom’s new visa policy will also ban travelers from 13 other countries, ahead of the upcoming hajj.
The suspension applies to Umrah, business, and family visit visas, and will remain in effect until mid-June, according to diplomatic and official sources.
The affected countries include Ethiopia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen.
This decision is part of the kingdom’s intensified efforts to ensure the safe and regulated execution of the hajj, which draws millions of Muslims annually from across the globe.
For Ethiopian Muslims, the pilgrimage represents a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey, deeply rooted in religious and cultural tradition.
Thousands travel to Mecca every year either for Hajj or Umrah, and the suspension has caused uncertainty for many who were preparing to depart in the coming weeks.
Families who had planned reunions, and business travelers scheduled for meetings in Saudi Arabia, are also facing disruptions. Travel agencies across Addis Ababa and regional cities like Dire Dawa and Jimma have reported a wave of cancellations and refund requests, and several pilgrims are now scrambling to understand the implications of the new rule.
Officials at the Saudi Embassy in Addis Ababa have confirmed that individuals already issued Umrah visas may still travel, but only until April 13, 2025. After that date, no new entries for these visa categories will be allowed until the suspension is lifted.
MG/as/APA