Over the past few days, hundreds of Egyptian travelers heading to Saudi Arabia — many of whom were planning to perform Umrah — were unexpectedly turned away at Jeddah Airport, despite holding what they believed to be valid visas.

The scenes were heartbreaking: families stranded, elderly passengers left in limbo, and many with no idea how they’d return or what just happened.

So what went wrong?

The Fine Print No One Read (Because No One Shared It)

The short answer is: Saudi Arabia quietly changed its visa policy ahead of the 2025 Hajj season. As of April 13, 2025, entry into the Kingdom using several visa types — including transit (E-Stopover), tourist, and even short-term work visas — was suspended for nationals from what’s called “Group B countries,” which includes Egypt.

While this decision was part of routine preparations to manage crowding ahead of Hajj, the communication around it was anything but routine.

Airlines Knew. Travel Agencies Knew. But Passengers Were Left in the Dark.

One of the biggest flashpoints was Flynas flight XY588 from Cairo to Jeddah. Of the 169 passengers onboard, only 39 were allowed to enter. The remaining 130 were denied, because their visas — while technically valid — no longer met Saudi Arabia’s updated entry criteria.

Let that sink in: people were sold tickets, issued boarding passes, and flew internationally, only to be turned back at the gate.

It’s now confirmed that airlines like Flynas were informed of the visa changes by Saudi Civil Aviation Authorities. They even issued internal memos asking travel agents to stop booking passengers from Egypt using E-Stopover Visas.

But for many travelers, that memo came too late.

So Who’s Responsible?

Let’s be real: the passengers are not at fault. They booked flights, received confirmation, held official visas — they followed the system. The real issue lies with:

• Airlines that continued selling and boarding passengers despite knowing about the changes.
• Agencies that packaged “Umrah trips” using inappropriate or now-invalid visas.
• Authorities that failed to proactively inform or block these bookings at the source.

And yes, we also need to talk about the rise of shady “travel agencies” and pop-up companies that promise “affordable Umrah in 4 days” or “quick Saudi transit” trips — without taking any responsibility for what happens if things go wrong.

We get it. Everyone wants a good deal. But when it comes to religious travel — or international travel in general — the cheapest option can come at the highest cost.

What Now?

Egypt’s Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that it’s looking into the situation and coordinating with Saudi officials. But for those turned away, the damage is already done — financially, emotionally, and spiritually.

Travelers are now filing complaints, and pressure is building for clearer refund policies, better transparency from airlines, and stronger oversight over travel agents operating in this space.

So What Can We Take Away From This?

First, and most importantly: this is not on the passengers. People followed the rules as they knew them — they had valid tickets, visas, and plans. The failure was in how the system handled the change, and how poorly that was communicated.

But that doesn’t mean we, as travelers, can afford to ignore the risks anymore.

• Not every “travel agent” is legit. Some agencies are cutting corners and packaging visa types they shouldn’t — just to sell quick trips and make money. And unfortunately, it’s the travelers who pay the price.
• Cheaper isn’t always safer. We know money’s tight, but if an offer feels too good to be true, it probably is. Do your homework, ask the right questions, and check if the company is actually licensed.
• Always double-check your visa type. Not just that it exists — but whether it’s valid for the purpose of your trip and still accepted at the time of travel. Policies can change overnight, as we just saw.

This entire situation is a reminder that while systems fail, we still need to protect ourselves the best we can. Not out of blame — but out of caution.

This shouldn’t have happened — not like this, not to this many people. But if anything, it’s a wake-up call for all of us, as travelers and as a community.