Today, Wednesday, Ahmed Issa, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, approved the rules and regulations governing the implementation of Umrah trips for the 1444 Hijri season, after the Supreme Committee for Umrah and Hajj completed them, as Umrah trips for this season are scheduled to start next October, according to the decision of the Council of Ministers in its meeting on Thursday, August 4th.
For her part, Samia Sami, head of the central administration of tourism companies in the ministry and head of the Supreme Committee for Umrah and Hajj, explained that the controls included general rules and procedures and requirements for pilgrims before and after performing Umrah, and those for tourism companies implementing Umrah trips, as well as rules and procedures for residence in Makkah and Madinah. .
The controls also included the rules for agents and private airlines, and others for contracts with Saudi proxy institutions, in addition to the executive procedures for dealing with the Egyptian portal for Umrah in accordance with Law No. 72 of 2021 regarding the Egyptian portal for Umrah, as this law specified only licensed tourism companies to organize trips and Umrah programs in order to confront brokers and illegal channels and with the aim of implementing the state’s strategic plans in the field of tourism and in a manner that ensures the preservation of Egyptian pilgrims.
The controls also stipulated the necessity of tourism companies implementing Umrah trips for the year 1444 AH to abide by the health procedures and controls issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to submit all health declarations and certificates for pilgrims regarding the Umrah season for this year.
She added that the controls also stipulated that tourism companies will be allowed to document Umrah agency contracts for the 1444 AH season, starting from August 21, and for a period of one month, provided that there are no legal positions for the company.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities calls on all tourism companies organizing Umrah trips to abide by all the provisions and rules of the Umrah season 1444 AH so that the company does not fall under the law and in order to preserve the rights and interests of pilgrims and preserve their dignity. The Ministry also calls upon all Egyptian citizens not to book any Umrah trips except through tourism companies. Licensed to guarantee the rights of Egyptian pilgrims and that they are not exposed to any fraud attempts by illegal entities and to ensure that the best services are provided to them during Umrah.