Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has banned tourists and pilgrims from bringing portable gas stoves and gas cylinders into hotels and furnished apartments in Madinah.
The new directive applies immediately to all hotels, motels, and furnished apartments in Madinah.
According to the ministry, the decision was issued under Article 22, Paragraph 4 of the rules governing tourist accommodation facilities.
Hotel and apartment operators have been instructed to strictly enforce the ban and make sure guests are informed about the new rules. The ministry also told owners of private hospitality facilities not to show any negligence in implementing safety measures.
In a separate move, the Ministry of Tourism has also rolled out an updated list of violations and penalties for hospitality facilities in Makkah and Madinah during the Hajj season.
The ministry said the Hajj season begins at the start of Dhul Qadah and continues until the middle of Muharram each year.
Under the updated rules, repeat violations will trigger tougher penalties. If an offense committed during the Hajj season is a repeat of an earlier breach, the facility will face either the minimum fine, if it is higher than the previous penalty, or a doubled fine if it is lower.
Violations repeated within the same Hajj season will also lead to doubled penalties.
Authorities said violations committed after the season but linked to earlier Hajj-related breaches will still be treated more strictly, with fines increasing based on how many times the offense has been repeated.
The ministry added that if a repeated violation carries no specific non-financial punishment, authorities may still temporarily shut down the facility or suspend its license during Hajj. A third offence could lead to complete license cancellation.
Officials said the enforcement model will follow a graduated approach, allowing penalties to rise with repeated breaches as long as they remain within the maximum legal limits.
Hospitality facilities have been divided into five categories, from five-star luxury hotels to unclassified and temporary Hajj accommodation. The value of the fine will also depend on the size of the business.
Micro enterprises will pay 25 percent of the prescribed fine, while small businesses will face 50 percent, medium enterprises 75 percent, and large operators the full penalty.
For hospitality facilities in Makkah and Madinah, fines range from SR2,000 (Rs. 148,683) to SR14,000 (Rs. 1,040,787). Other penalties include temporary or permanent closure and license cancellation in cases of repeated violations.
For temporary Hajj accommodation facilities, fines range from SR1,000 (Rs. 74,341) to SR50,000 (Rs. 3,717,097). Additional action may include temporary closure until the property meets requirements or full license revocation.
Get the latest international news and global stories wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.