Saudi Arabia Shuts Down 25 Mecca Hotels Over Tourism Violations

MECCA, July 27, 2025 — Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has announced the closure of 25 hospitality establishments in the holy city of Mecca this month for breaching tourism regulations. The move comes as part of an intensified inspection campaign aimed at ensuring visitor safety and upholding service standards, particularly during the peak pilgrimage season.

According to the ministry, the violations included operating without valid licenses, substandard hygiene and maintenance conditions, and failure to comply with guest safety protocols. Officials stressed that these closures are necessary to protect pilgrims and tourists visiting the sacred city.

“These measures reflect our ongoing commitment to ensuring that all facilities adhere to the highest standards of service and safety,” the ministry stated, urging all operators to comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

Under Saudi law, violations of tourism regulations may lead to penalties including fines of up to one million Saudi riyals (approximately USD 266,000), temporary or permanent closure, or both.

The ministry reaffirmed that only properly licensed and compliant establishments will be allowed to operate, warning that further inspections will continue in Mecca and other major tourist destinations across the Kingdom.