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The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has officially released the new Umrah regulations for the 1448 AH season. These rules apply to Umrah companies, external travel agents, online travel agencies, transport providers, hotels, and pilgrims coming from outside Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas.
For many people, these official documents are difficult to understand because they are written in legal and operational language. So in this article, we will explain the important points in simple and normal English.
Whether you are a pilgrim planning Umrah, a travel agent, or an Umrah company owner, these rules are very important for you.
Saudi Arabia wants to improve the overall Umrah experience for pilgrims and make the system more professional, transparent, and organized. The Ministry wants to reduce problems like:
The goal is simple: better service, more discipline, and safer travel for pilgrims.
Umrah visa issuance will begin from the 14th of Dhu al-Hijjah every year.
The final date for issuing Umrah visas is the 1st of Shawwal.
Pilgrims can enter Saudi Arabia until the 15th of Shawwal only.
All pilgrims must leave Saudi Arabia before the end of Shawwal. If someone overstays, strict action can be taken against both the pilgrim and the Umrah company.
The Ministry has clearly said that Umrah companies are fully responsible for pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
Every pilgrim’s package must include:
These services must match exactly what was promised to the pilgrim.
All pilgrim data, travel movements, arrival details, and hotel information must be updated properly in the Nusuk Masar system.
If wrong or incomplete information is entered, the company can face penalties.
The Ministry also wants companies to actively communicate with pilgrims during their stay. Companies must:
Pilgrims are now strongly encouraged to create accounts on the Nusuk App.
This app is important for:
Umrah companies are responsible for educating pilgrims about the app.
Umrah companies are only allowed to book hotels licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism.
Using unlicensed accommodation is considered a serious violation.
Companies must ensure that rooms are ready before pilgrims arrive. Delays in check-in or failure to provide rooms can lead to complaints and penalties.
If a pilgrim was promised a certain category or quality of hotel, the company cannot downgrade the accommodation without proper approval.
Transportation is one of the biggest focus areas in the new regulations.
Transport providers must be approved by Saudi authorities.
Before every trip between cities or airports, Umrah companies must create a “Boarding Order” through Nusuk Masar.
This includes:
Companies must repeatedly verify flight schedules before transporting pilgrims to airports.
If pilgrims miss flights due to company negligence, the company becomes responsible.
The Ministry has clearly instructed that pilgrims should arrive at airports:
This rule is meant to reduce crowding and confusion.
Pilgrims are not allowed to place Zamzam bottles inside suitcases.
Each pilgrim is allowed only one designated Zamzam bottle for air transport.
Insurance is no longer optional.
Every Umrah visa application must include comprehensive insurance coverage.
The insurance includes:
The insurance remains valid for 90 days from the date of entry into Saudi Arabia.
The Ministry has placed strict responsibilities on travel agents outside Saudi Arabia.
Agents must tell pilgrims:
Round-trip confirmed tickets are mandatory.
Pilgrims should receive educational material in their own language about:
Saudi Arabia is now becoming extremely strict regarding pilgrims who stay beyond visa validity.
If overstaying numbers become high for a company or nationality, the Ministry can suspend visa issuance for that category.
This means companies now have strong pressure to ensure pilgrims return on time.
Some violations are considered “serious violations” by the Ministry.
Examples include:
The Ministry may:
Saudi Arabia is introducing a monthly evaluation system for Umrah companies and agents.
Companies will be classified into:
The classification depends on:
Companies in the Green and Yellow categories will receive better operational opportunities.
They can participate in:
Poor-performing companies may lose these privileges.
One thing is very clear from the new regulations:
Saudi Arabia wants the Umrah industry to become more professional, transparent, data-driven, and service-focused.
The days of informal operations, weak coordination, poor accommodations, and incomplete records are slowly ending.
For pilgrims, these new rules are mostly positive because they aim to improve safety, organization, and service quality.
For Umrah companies and travel agents, this season will require:
Companies that work professionally and honestly will grow stronger under this new system. Companies that ignore rules may face suspensions, penalties, or operational restrictions.
The Umrah sector is clearly moving toward a more regulated and higher-quality future.
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