Pilgrims who need to bring controlled medications for their own use must obtain a personal clearance permit, and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has set out the rules and steps for doing so. The authority said the move is part of its work to serve pilgrims, help them perform their rites and protect the health of everyone visiting the holy sites.

Applicants must provide a copy of their passport, a valid prescription or medical report issued within the past six months, and a photo of the medicine and its outer packaging. They must also accept the electronic declaration in the application before submitting it.

The quantity carried must stay within approved limits: no more than a 30-day supply or the length of the pilgrim's stay in the Kingdom, whichever is shorter, based on the dose stated in the prescription or report.

According to the SFDA, these rules form an integrated regulatory and oversight framework that makes pilgrims' entry into the Kingdom safe and smooth while keeping tight control over how such medicines are handled and circulated.

Applications are made by opening a 'Personal Traveler Account' on the electronic Controlled Drugs System (CDS) at https://cds.sfda.gov.sa/. A user manual in Arabic and English is available on the SFDA website at https://www.sfda.gov.sa/en/regulations/4271273.