Tourism: 30 violations and fines totaling 50,000 riyals issued to hospitality facilities in Mecca and Medina during the Hajj season

The Ministry of Tourism announced the adoption of rules for implementing the schedule of violations and penalties on the activity of tourist hospitality facilities in Makkah and Madinah during the Hajj season, with the aim of raising the level of control and ensuring that tourist establishments adhere to the highest standards of quality and service for pilgrims and visitors.

The ministry confirmed that the new schedule of violations and penalties will be applied exclusively to the Hajj season in Mecca and Medina, as an exception to the general schedule of violations and penalties issued by the Minister of Tourism’s decision No. (1275) dated 13/4/1447 AH.

The general violations schedule applies to items not listed in this schedule during the Hajj season. The Hajj season officially begins on the first of Dhu al-Qi'dah and ends in the middle of Muharram, unless the competent authority issues other decisions, thus confirming the establishment of a clear timeframe for monitoring and inspection.

Penalties are determined according to the frequency of the violation

The ministry has established a strict mechanism for escalating financial and non-financial penalties based on the frequency and timing of violations. If a violation committed during the season is a repeat of a violation that occurred before the season, the minimum financial penalty specified in the table is applied, and this penalty is doubled if it is less than the previous penalty. If the same violation is repeated within the same season, the financial penalty is doubled immediately.

If a violation is committed after the season in which it occurred, the minimum financial penalty is doubled according to the number of recurrences. Non-financial penalties are also applied directly according to the new schedule. The relevant committee the right to temporarily close or suspend the license upon two recurrences, and to revoke the license upon a third recurrence, while maintaining a graduated scale of financial penalties to ensure fairness and strict oversight.

Financial penalties are determined according to the classification and size of the establishment

The Ministry adopted a precise system for classifying tourist establishments according to category and size, with the aim of determining the value of financial penalties fairly and transparently. The establishments were classified as follows: Category 1 includes luxury or unlicensed five-star hotels, including temporary accommodations during the Hajj season; Category 2 includes four-star hotels; Category 3 includes three-star first-class hotels; Category 4 includes two-star or one-star economy hotels; and Category 5 includes other unclassified tourist hospitality facilities.

The value of the fine varies according to the size of the establishment, as micro-enterprises are calculated at 25% of the value of the penalty, small ones at 50%, medium ones at 75%, and large ones at 100%, in order to ensure that the size of the establishment is taken into account when assessing the financial penalty.

Details of violations and financial penalties

Violators who fail to meet any of the licensing requirements or classification criteria for the establishment will be penalized with a fine ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 riyals, and those who prevent the inspector from performing his duties or fail to cooperate with him will be penalized with a fine of 14,000–20,000 riyals.

A similar fine is imposed on anyone who uses the ministry’s name or logo in any advertisement or marketing activity without obtaining official approval, while a fine ranging between 3,000 and 10,000 riyals is applied to establishments that do not respond to the ministry around the clock.

A fine of 10,000 riyals is expected for anyone who does not comply with the decisions and instructions issued by the Ministry, and a fine ranging between 2,000 and 5,000 riyals is imposed on establishments whose employees do not adhere to personal hygiene and good appearance.

A fine ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 riyals will be imposed on anyone who does not supervise all units or provides the service without acceptable reasons, and a similar fine will be imposed on anyone who allows smoking in public places within the facility without an official permit.

Violators who fail to meet the standards of cleanliness or maintenance at the facility will be penalized with a fine ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 riyals. A similar fine will be imposed on those who do not verify the original proof of a guest’s identity or rely solely on viewing a copy without registering it.

A fine ranging from 2,000 to 8,000 riyals will be imposed on anyone who does not provide a means of communication with the responsible manager or the ministry's channels, while a fine ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 riyals will be imposed on anyone who does not receive the guest or does not deal with him politely and respectfully.

A fine ranging between 7,000 and 10,000 riyals will be imposed on anyone who refuses to provide the ministry with any information or data when requested, or who does not update the establishment and licensee data in the electronic system.

A fine ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 riyals will be applied to anyone who does not apply the technical standards for data when entering it into the National Tourism Monitoring Platform, while a fine ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 riyals will be expected to be applied to anyone who does not immediately report any incident related to security and safety.

Those who fail to provide an alternative unit for a guest or to refund payments made upon service interruption will be fined between 10,000 and 20,000 riyals. A fine of 8,000 riyals will be imposed for failing to meet any of the licensing criteria for a single service provider, and a fine of 6,000 riyals for failing to meet any of the operational criteria. A similar fine will be levied for conducting any media activities without permits, while a substantial fine of 50,000 riyals will be imposed for contracting services under agreements not documented by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

A fine ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 riyals will be imposed on anyone who does not provide potable water or a tank inspection certificate, and a fine of 20,000 riyals will be imposed on anyone who does not provide electricity service from the official source. A similar fine will be imposed for the uncleanliness of the facility's facade or the presence of visual distortions therein.

A fine of 5,000 riyals will be imposed for failure to conclude operation and maintenance contracts with licensed institutions, and a fine of 1,000 riyals will be imposed on anyone who does not keep operation and maintenance records or does not provide them to the ministry upon request.

Violators who begin any maintenance work causing noise without the Ministry’s approval will be fined 2,000 riyals. A similar fine will be imposed on those who allow the use of halls, kitchens, basements, and upper floors for unauthorized purposes. A fine of 4,000 riyals will be applied to failure to record guest entry and exit data according to the approved mechanism, while a similar fine will be imposed on allowing the preparation of food and drinks in unauthorized places within the facility.

Temporary closure and license cancellation procedures

The ministry confirmed that the competent committee has the right to temporarily close the facility when a certain violation is repeated for the first time, and to cancel the license when it is repeated for the second time, taking into account the gradual application of financial penalties, and ensuring that the maximum penalty is not exceeded, which reflects the ministry’s keenness to apply justice and strict control in hospitality facilities during the Hajj season.