Jeddah: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended contracts with 1,800 foreign travel agencies. These agencies are part of the Umrah sector, out of a total of about 5,800. They have been given 10 days to fix their status.
The suspension follows a performance review. It showed poor service quality and non-compliance with standards, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The ministry said the suspension only affects the issuance of new visas. It aims to help agencies improve their compliance and service quality. Contracts will be reactivated once the agencies meet the required standards within the grace period.
Pilgrims holding valid visas or existing reservations will not be affected. Services for them will continue as usual.
The ministry said applying approved classifications and performance standards is important. It ensures agencies provide services that meet the required quality. Protecting the rights of Umrah performers and keeping services running smoothly are top priorities.
Ghassan Alnwaimi, the ministry’s spokesperson, said agencies that fail to correct their issues by the deadline will face regulatory action. He added that monitoring and evaluation will continue to ensure the Umrah sector is reliable and pilgrims’ rights are safeguarded.
