RIYADH — The Ministry of Tourism has issued regulations outlining violations and penalties for hospitality facilities in Makkah and Madinah during the Hajj season, as part of efforts to enhance service quality for pilgrims.The ministry said the Hajj season runs annually from the first of Dhul Qadah until mid-Muharram.Under the new rules, repeated violations during Hajj will result in stricter penalties. If a violation committed during the season is a repeat of one committed before Hajj, the minimum fine will be applied if higher than the previous penalty, or doubled if lower. If repeated within the same season, fines will be doubled.Violations committed after the season but repeated from Hajj-related offenses will also incur increased penalties, with fines escalating based on the number of offenses.The ministry added that repeated violations without specified non-financial penalties may lead to temporary closure or suspension of licenses during the Hajj season, while a third offense may result in license revocation.Authorities emphasized a gradual approach in applying penalties, with the option to increase fines for repeated violations, provided they do not exceed the maximum limit.Hospitality facilities have been classified into five categories, ranging from luxury five-star establishments to unclassified and temporary Hajj accommodations.Penalties are also scaled based on the size of the facility, with fines set at 25% for micro enterprises, 50% for small businesses, 75% for medium enterprises, and 100% for large establishments.Financial penalties for violations in Makkah and Madinah range from SR2,000 to SR14,000, alongside non-financial penalties such as temporary or full closure and license cancellation for repeated offenses.For temporary Hajj accommodation facilities, fines range from SR1,000 to SR50,000, with penalties including temporary closure until compliance is achieved or license revocation.
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