Saudi authorities have prevented more than 269,000 individuals without official permits from entering Mecca ahead of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, officials announced on Sunday as reported by AlArabiya and AP.

The move came as part of a broader effort to control overcrowding and ensure safety during the annual Islamic ritual.

The Interior Ministry stated that the measure targets both foreign nationals and Saudi residents attempting to perform Hajj without authorisation.

Fines of up to $5,000 and possible deportation have been imposed on violators.

In addition, authorities have penalised over 23,000 residents for breaking Hajj regulations and revoked the licences of 400 Hajj service providers.

At a press conference in Mecca, officials said they had stopped 269,678 people without permits from entering the city.

According to the rules, only those with permits are allowed to perform the pilgrimage, even if they live in the city year-round. 

Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Omari told the media, “The pilgrim is in our sight, and anyone who disobeys is in our hands.”

The strict enforcement came amid growing concerns about the impact of unauthorised pilgrims on public safety.

Last year, many of those who died during extreme summer heat were found to be unregistered participants, according to government sources.

Currently, approximately 1.4 million pilgrims with permits are in Mecca, with more expected to arrive in the coming days.

In a sign of increased surveillance and technological intervention, Saudi Civil Defence has deployed drones for the first time during the Hajj.

These drones will assist in crowd monitoring, surveillance, and even firefighting, officials said.

The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey at least once in their lifetime. 

This year’s pilgrimage is being held under high temperatures, raising further concerns for health and safety.