“There are not enough halls at the seaport to accommodate departing or arriving pilgrims who might find themselves staying in their vehicles or squatting along the streets of the city while waiting for ships to complete their entry procedures,” the ministry said in a letter to these companies, a copy of which Arab News has seen.

The ministry said it took the measure after noticing the clusters of pilgrims departing on the The Mawadah’s first voyage last week.

“Pilgrims should not be sent to Yanbu or its seaport before the ships taking them back home have actually docked,” it said.

The ministry said the lounges of the seaport could not accommodate many departing pilgrims and there were no places in the city where they could wait while waiting to depart.

The Red Sea port of Yanbu is the nearest sea inlet for pilgrims coming from the north on their way to Makkah and Madinah.

It is also the nearest port for pilgrims coming from Europe and America.  Last year, the seaport handled 392,440 passengers compared to 144,675 in 2008, making it the fastest growing port on the Red Sea.

Speaking to Arab News, a number of local residents expressed anxiety over the small city becoming overcrowded by pilgrims arriving or leaving Saudi Arabia. “This is a real source of worry for us,” one citizen said.

Yanbu port was a historic naval inlet for pilgrims coming from Sudan, Egypt and other African countries.

The residents asked authorities to review the situation, especially during the Haj and Umrah seasons when large numbers of pilgrims were coming and going.

They said the clustering of pilgrims along the streets of their small city might cause security, health and social hazards.