Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Suspends Contracts with 1,800 Foreign Travel Agencies for Poor Performance
وزارة الحج والعمرة توقف تعاقدات 1,800 وكالة سفر خارجية لقصور مستوى الأداء
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the suspension of existing contracts with 1,800 foreign travel agencies operating in the field of Umrah, out of approximately 5,800 agencies, granting them 10 days to rectify their status. This action is based on the results of the approved periodic evaluation, which revealed deficiencies in performance and weak service quality among these agencies. The Ministry clarified that the suspension applies only to the issuance of new visas and is part of a regulatory methodology aimed at enabling agencies to address classification observations and improve compliance with approved standards. Contracts will be reactivated after the deadline upon completion of the necessary requirements. The Ministry confirmed that pilgrims holding valid visas or existing bookings will not be affected by this measure, and services provided to them will continue without any changes. It added that implementing the approved classification and performance indicators is a fundamental regulatory procedure intended to enhance compliance among service providers and ensure services meet approved standards, emphasizing that protecting pilgrims’ rights and service continuity is a priority in all regulatory actions. The Ministry’s official spokesperson, Dr. Ghassan Al-Nuaimi, stated that the Ministry will take all regulatory measures against any agency that fails to correct its status after the specified period, emphasizing the continuation of monitoring and evaluation tools to enhance the reliability of the Umrah system and safeguard pilgrims’ rights.