1,800 Umrah Agency Contracts Suspended After Review

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended contracts with 1,800 foreign travel agencies operating in the Umrah sector after a routine performance evaluation identified service shortcomings and non-compliance with approved standards. The affected agencies represent nearly a third of the approximately 5,800 companies licensed to operate in the sector.

The suspension applies only to the issuance of new visas, with agencies granted a 10-day grace period to rectify classification and compliance issues. The ministry said contracts will be reactivated once the required standards are met within that timeframe.

Pilgrims holding valid Umrah visas or existing reservations will not be affected by the measure. The ministry confirmed that all services for current Umrah performers will continue as scheduled, stressing that protecting pilgrims’ rights and ensuring service continuity remain central to its regulatory approach.