BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Only Visas Issued by the Official National Office of Hajj and Umrah or the Saudi Embassy Are Valid—Embassy Urges Caution Amid Rising Online Scams
Algiers, Algeria | April 24th, 2025 — The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Algeria has issued a serious warning to Algerian citizens and other foreign nationals residing in Algeria, urging them to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to fraudulent Hajj campaigns, which are increasingly being promoted through deceptive accounts on social media.
In an official statement released on Thursday, April 24, the Saudi Embassy highlighted the growing threat posed by anonymous or impersonated online accounts that offer enticing and unrealistically low-cost packages for the Hajj pilgrimage. As the sacred season of Hajj 1446H / 2025 approaches, the embassy reminded prospective pilgrims that legitimate arrangements for the pilgrimage can only be made through official and recognized channels.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would like to draw the attention of our Algerian brothers and others residing in Algeria to the necessity of avoiding deceptive Hajj campaigns that advertise through fake or unauthorized social media pages offering tempting prices,” read the embassy’s statement.
The embassy emphasized that entry to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the purpose of Hajj is strictly permitted only through the issuance of a valid Hajj visa. These visas are issued exclusively by the National Office of Hajj and Umrah (ONPO) or directly through the Saudi Embassy in Algeria.
Consequently, the embassy urged all interested pilgrims to disregard and steer clear of any unofficial or suspicious offers and instead rely solely on verified information and procedures provided by the National Office of Hajj and Umrah or the Saudi diplomatic mission in Algeria.
This alert comes amid increasing concern over the exploitation of religious obligations by fraudulent networks aiming to profit from unsuspecting believers. The Saudi government, in close coordination with Algerian authorities, continues to work diligently to ensure a safe and regulated Hajj experience for all participants.
