The services for Umrah performers and visitors to the Prophet's Mosque coming from outside the Kingdom - hereinafter referred to as the Umrah performers - are provided by Saudi institutions or companies, including the groups that serve the pilgrims or any member of these groups, after obtaining a commercial registration in accordance with the regulations and instructions without exception, and after obtaining the necessary license from the Ministry of Hajj.

The Ministry of Hajj is responsible for supervising the licensed institutions and companies, monitoring their performance, ensuring the accuracy of their commitments, and working to enhance the efficiency of their employees. The necessary licenses are issued in accordance with the following:
1 - The capital must be wholly owned by Saudis and not less than five hundred thousand Riyals.
2 - A bank guarantee of no less than two million Riyals must be provided in favor of the Ministry of Hajj from one of the approved local banks, valid for the entire duration of the license. Any amount due from the licensee for failure to fulfill any obligation may be directly withdrawn from the guarantee, with a requirement for the licensee to cover the amount withdrawn from the guarantee immediately. The guarantee shall not be cancellable except in the case of license termination and with the Ministry's approval, in accordance with what is specified in the Implementing Regulation.
3 - The duration of the license is five years and is renewable.
4 - Licenses for providing services to pilgrims are granted and renewed according to criteria established jointly by the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Hajj, based on financial solvency, administrative competence, previous experience in the field, and rates of defaults and previous penalties, in accordance with what is specified in the Implementing Regulation.

The licensed institution or company is obligated to the following:
1 - To serve the pilgrims with honesty and sincerity, and to provide its services in accordance with the provisions of this regulation.
2 - To have its general manager, branch heads, and supervisors in the field of services at least Saudi nationals of good reputation and conduct.
3 - To have an office in each of Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah.

The representations of the Kingdom abroad shall issue notations for the pilgrims according to the following:
1- The arrival of the pilgrims must be through officially licensed entities to organize travel trips in the country from which they are coming.
2- Compliance with the health requirements issued by the Ministry of Health.
3- Ensuring that the pilgrim has a round-trip ticket and a bank check issued by one of the banks approved by the Saudi Central Bank for each pilgrim covering all entitlements of the institution or company providing services to them in the Kingdom, including accommodation fees, transportation, and other services chosen by the pilgrim according to the level agreed upon and in accordance with the list specified in item (3) of Article Five.
4- The institutions and companies licensed to serve the pilgrims in the Kingdom must have a contract certified by the Ministry of Hajj with the licensed entities abroad, and the implementing regulation specifies the necessary details for this contract, which must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs according to its established rules.
5- The name of the institution or company licensed to serve the pilgrim in the Kingdom shall be specified in the notation.

• 1 - Licensed institutions and companies in the Kingdom are obligated to serve the pilgrims arriving through them as follows:

  • A - Receiving the pilgrims and securing their accommodation in classified and licensed hotels and furnished apartments from the Ministry of Commerce, ensuring their transportation, and providing other services chosen by the pilgrim according to the agreed level, as well as supervising the provision of comfort for them during their stay and movements in all regions of the Kingdom, monitoring their travel, confirming their reservations during the period specified in their visa, and notifying the Ministry of Hajj accordingly.

  • B - Retaining information that includes the names, nationalities, tickets, and passport numbers of the arrivals, the means of transport they arrived on, the date of arrival, the name of the carrier and its agent, as well as the person responsible for each group of arrivals by land, and any other information specified by the Implementing Regulation.

  • C - Paying the return ticket value for any pilgrim arriving through them who delays beyond the specified departure time, or deducting it from the bank guarantee, upon the apprehension of security authorities or during their deportation.

• 2 - Implementing the procedures and guarantees that ensure the departure of the pilgrim and visitor from the Kingdom as determined by the Implementing Regulation.

• 3 - The Ministry of Hajj, in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce after obtaining the approval of the Minister of Interior and the Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, shall prepare a detailed list of service levels, types, grades, specifications, and prices for each, which shall be reviewed every three years or whenever necessary.

• 4 - A company shall undertake, through a public competition, the sorting of travel documents for the pilgrims and organizing what is necessary regarding them to facilitate the task of Umrah companies and institutions in receiving and bidding farewell to them at the entry points. The Ministry of Hajj, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance (General Customs Authority), shall set the necessary conditions and regulations for this, provided that the company receives a specified amount borne by the licensed Umrah companies and institutions, according to the results of the aforementioned competition.

The Implementing Regulation clarifies the appropriate arrangements that facilitate transit passengers in performing Umrah.

• 1- Without prejudice to any harsher penalty provided by the Law, the licensed institution or company that violates any provision of this regulation and its executive bylaw shall be punished with one or more of the following penalties:

  • A - A financial fine not exceeding fifty thousand Riyals.

  • B - Suspension of the license for a period not exceeding six months from the duration of Umrah visas.

  • C - Revocation of the license granted to the institution or company.

• 2 - Without prejudice to the right to claim civil rights, the licensed entity abroad shall be prohibited from dealing with licensed institutions and companies in the Kingdom if it fails to fulfill its contractual obligations.

• 3 - Anyone who provides services to Umrah pilgrims without obtaining the necessary license shall be punished with a financial fine not exceeding one hundred thousand Riyals.

A permanent committee shall be formed in the Ministry of Hajj consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Hajj, with one of its members being legally qualified. This committee is responsible for receiving complaints submitted by pilgrims or from official entities, investigating them, and recommending the imposition of the penalty stipulated in Article Seven of this regulation, as well as recovering the value of services that were not provided by the licensee and refunding it to the pilgrims in accordance with what is specified in the implementing regulation.

The penalties stipulated in Article Seven of this regulation shall be applied by a decision of the Minister of Hajj.

The person against whom the penalty decision has been issued has the right to appeal it before the Board of Grievances within sixty days from the date of being notified of it.