Saudi Arabia Closes 25 Mecca Hotels Over Tourism Violations

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has closed 25 hotels in the holy city of Mecca this month for breaching tourism regulations, part of an intensified crackdown aimed at ensuring visitor safety and service quality during peak pilgrimage season.

The closures followed rigorous inspection campaigns targeting hospitality establishments, particularly in the lead-up to and aftermath of the Hajj pilgrimage. The violations included operating without valid licenses, failure to meet hygiene and maintenance standards, and non-compliance with essential guest safety protocols.

In a statement, the Ministry said, “These measures reflect our ongoing commitment to ensuring that all facilities adhere to the highest standards of service and safety.” It reiterated that only licensed and regulation-compliant facilities will be allowed to operate in the Kingdom.

The penalties for infractions under Saudi tourism laws can be severe—ranging from closure orders to fines of up to 1 million Saudi riyals (approximately USD 266,000), or both. The Ministry emphasized that enforcement efforts are part of broader reforms to elevate tourism services and protect the welfare of pilgrims and visitors to the holy cities.

This recent action follows the earlier shutdown of 330 hospitality units, including hotels and furnished apartments, in Mecca and Medina, highlighting the Kingdom’s zero-tolerance policy on tourism violations as it continues to transform its tourism sector under Vision 2030.