Ban on commercial promotion of Hajj campaigns by celebrities

Abdul Karim Ahmad

The Hajj and Umrah Affairs Department of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs issued Circular No. 14 of 2026, addressed to licensed operators of Hajj travel services. The circular outlines new regulations governing the participation of media personnel and celebrities during the Hajj season of 1448 AH, in accordance with directives issued by the relevant authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In its circular, the department affirmed that the participation of media personnel in their professional capacity during the Hajj season will be strictly limited to the accredited media team accompanying the Kuwaiti Hajj delegation.

The department also strictly prohibited the inclusion of media personnel and celebrities in the administrative or organizational teams accompanying Hajj companies, whether within Kuwait or in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The circular further emphasized that media personnel and celebrities present in the Holy Sites are prohibited from using social media platforms for commercial promotion of Hajj companies.

The department called on all licensed operators to fully comply with these regulations when preparing the lists of accompanying staff for their companies and to adhere to the applicable laws and directives. It stressed that violators will bear full legal responsibility for any resulting consequences.