Ban on Involving Media Personalities and Celebrities in 'Hajj Campaigns'

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, represented by the Hajj and Umrah Affairs Department, has directed licensed Hajj companies to strictly adhere to the regulations governing the participation of journalists and celebrities in the upcoming Hajj season, in light of directives issued by the competent authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the organization of their participation.

The Ministry emphasized, in a circular issued by the Hajj and Umrah Affairs Department yesterday, Thursday, that the participation of journalists in the Hajj season is limited to those acting in their capacity as media professionals, as part of the accredited media staff of the Kuwaiti Hajj mission. It stressed that it is prohibited to include journalists and celebrities within the administrative or organizational teams accompanying Kuwaiti Hajj campaigns in the Kingdom.

The regulations also prohibit journalists and celebrities present in Saudi Arabia from using social media platforms for commercial promotion of Hajj campaigns. The Ministry called on all license holders to comply with the provisions of the circular and consider its stipulations when preparing lists of accompanying staff for their campaigns, while adhering to applicable systems and regulations, holding violators accountable for any breaches.

This circular comes as part of the regulatory measures for the 1448 AH Hajj season, aiming to regulate the participation of journalists and celebrities and to separate media duties from the administrative and organizational tasks of Hajj companies and campaigns.