Saudi authorities have suspended an Umrah company and its foreign agent after pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom without the accommodation promised in their approved travel programmes. The action, announced by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, comes amid tighter oversight of Umrah operators as pilgrim numbers rise and service requirements become more strictly enforced.
Suspension over accommodation failures
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said the suspension followed the discovery that the company failed to provide lodging for pilgrims despite accommodation being listed in the contractual programmes approved in advance. As a result, several pilgrims reached Saudi Arabia without secured housing, prompting immediate regulatory action. In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said the company’s failure constituted a clear violation of the regulations governing services for Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques. It noted that accommodation services had been formally documented in the approved programmes, yet were not delivered on arrival. Legal measures were taken against both the Umrah company and its overseas agent under the established regulatory frameworks. “The measures are intended to safeguard the rights of affected pilgrims, prevent a recurrence of such violations, and ensure the continued enhancement of service quality,” the ministry added. Officials stressed that shortcomings in contracted services would not be tolerated, reiterating that protecting the rights of pilgrims remains a top priority and that service quality is a non-negotiable standard.
Tighter controls as Umrah volumes surge
The suspension reflects a broader pattern of stepped-up enforcement. Last June, the ministry similarly suspended seven Umrah companies over transport-related deficiencies, signalling sustained scrutiny rather than isolated action. The context is one of scale. During the single Islamic month of Jumada Al Akhira, which ended in late December 2025, more than 1.7 million Muslims performed Umrah. Managing accommodation, transport and movement for such numbers has prompted stricter pre-arrival requirements. Saudi authorities now require confirmed hotel bookings and local transport arrangements before Umrah visas are approved. These bookings are typically verified through official digital platforms such as Nusuk Masar or the Nusuk Umrah portal. Umrah operators, including those facilitating pilgrims from India and the UAE, have been urging travellers to complete these steps through licensed agents or official channels before submitting visa applications. From this year, visa approvals are increasingly tied to digitally verified accommodation and transport contracts uploaded or linked through the Nusuk system. Authorities say the shift is intended to prevent fraud, protect pilgrims from last-minute disruptions, and centralise Umrah services through a fully digitised process, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals to improve the pilgrim experience.
