• The following phrases mentioned in this Regulation shall have the meanings specified next to each of them unless the context requires otherwise. Additionally, words that appear in the singular form shall also apply to the plural form whenever the text requires it, and vice versa.

• The Kingdom: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• The Ministry: The Ministry of Hajj.

• The Minister: The Minister of Hajj.

• The Regulation: The Regulation for Organizing the Services of Umrah Pilgrims and Visitors to the Prophet's Mosque coming from outside the Kingdom, issued by Council of Ministers Resolution No. (93) dated 10/6/1420H, and amended by Council of Ministers Resolution No. (439) dated 20/11/1435H.

• The Implementing Regulation: The Implementing Regulation for Organizing the Services of Umrah Pilgrims and Visitors to the Prophet's Mosque coming from outside the Kingdom.

• Umrah Services: The services provided to Umrah pilgrims by licensed entities within the Kingdom, including accommodation, transportation, sustenance, confirmation of travel bookings, and other services chosen by the pilgrim as part of the agreed service package.

• The Mission: The Embassy or Consulate of the Kingdom abroad.

• Umrah Pilgrims: Individuals coming from outside the Kingdom to perform the rituals of Umrah and visit the Prophet's Mosque.

• Licensed Entity: Any Saudi establishment, whether a sole proprietorship or a company, regardless of its legal form, licensed to engage in Umrah services as recorded in the Commercial Register of the establishment or company.

• The Responsible Manager: The manager responsible for the Saudi establishment or company applying for a license for Umrah services as recorded in the Commercial Register of the establishment or company.

• Branch Offices: The offices that the licensed entity must have in each of Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah as per paragraph (3) of Article Three of the Regulation.

• The License: Permission to practice the service issued by the Ministry according to specific criteria, valid for five years, granted to any Saudi company or establishment wishing to engage in Umrah services for pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom, provided that all requirements are met, or when applying for the renewal of expired licenses.

• The Security Clearance: Permission issued by the competent authority at the Ministry of Interior according to the mechanism agreed upon with the Ministry of Hajj, granted to any Saudi company or establishment wishing to obtain a license to practice Umrah services, as well as to licensed entities when renewing their expired licenses, and when activating their automated systems at the beginning of the Umrah season each year, and is provided to the Ministry through the automated linkage between the two ministries.

• The External Entity: Any establishment, whether an authority, office, company, or agency, officially licensed in other countries to engage in organizing travel and tourism trips outside those countries.

• The Service Contract: The contract concluded between the licensed entity and the external entity.

• The Official Entity: Any ministry, governmental department, or public institution in the Kingdom.

• Approved Service Responsibilities List: The detailed list of levels, types, grades, specifications, and prices of Umrah services referred to in item (3) of Article Five of the Regulation.

• Supporting Services: Organizing the services required from all licensed entities that enable them to perform their duties as required through entities licensed for that purpose, such as: reception and farewell, electronic services, accommodation, sustenance, etc....

• Supporting Entities: Companies or institutions licensed by the Ministry to organize and provide supporting services to licensed entities primarily or incidentally.

• The Electronic System: An electronic system prepared by the Ministry that includes multiple applications related to Umrah activities, including data registration, information exchange, and uploading documents related to the processing of data associated with Umrah visas.

• The Electronic Umrah Path: An electronic linkage between the Ministry and the relevant official entities for information exchange.

• The Operational Plans: Represent the operational capabilities of the licensed entity in providing services to the pilgrims coming through it, which the Ministry determines its requirements and has the authority to approve.

• The Committee: The permanent committee referred to in Article Eight of the Regulation.

• The Defendant: The person against whom a complaint has been filed before the Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation and this Regulation.

• Licenses to practice the services of Umrah pilgrims are granted and renewed according to the conditions and standards set by the entities specified in paragraph (4) of Article (2) of the law, and are considered complementary and supplementary to the law and its executive regulation. The application is submitted through the electronic system prepared for this purpose, along with the following requirements:

• 1. The establishment must take the form of an individual institution or a company formed in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Law, and an official document from the Ministry of Commerce must be provided indicating that the capital of the establishment is wholly owned by Saudis and is not less than five hundred thousand Riyals.

• 2. A final unconditional bank guarantee of no less than two million Riyals in favor of the Ministry, issued by one of the local banks approved by the Saudi Central Bank, valid throughout the duration of the license and automatically renewed upon renewal of the license, and not subject to cancellation except with prior written approval from the Ministry.

• 3. A copy of the commercial register of the institution if the license applicant is an institution.

• 4. A copy of the company's articles of incorporation and any amendments if the license applicant is a company, along with a copy of the commercial register.

• 5. Adding the activity of Umrah services to the commercial register of the license applicant after obtaining the Ministry's approval, and it may not be amended except with the Ministry's approval.

• 6. A copy of the civil status card of the responsible manager and the managers of the branch offices.

• 7. A copy of the certificate of no criminal record for the responsible manager and the managers of the branch offices, as well as for the owner of the individual institution if the establishment applying for the license is an individual institution.

• 8. The administrative organizational structure for Umrah services according to the requirements set by the Ministry.

• 9. An engineering drawing showing the locations of the branch offices in Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah.

• 10. A copy of the lease contracts or a copy of the ownership deeds of the branch offices.

• 11. Availability of computers and software according to the Ministry's requirements, including linking the company's or institution's network to the Ministry's Umrah Information Center according to the necessary technical requirements and standards, achieving the automatic transfer of the required information in this regulation.

• 12. Filling out the electronic form for applying for the granting or renewal of the license prepared by the Ministry.

• 13. Participation with supporting entities.

• 14. Obtaining the security permit from the passport office.

• 15. Approval from the Minister.

After the approval of the claim, the applicant must bring the original documents referred to in Article Two of this regulation to match them with the copies submitted with the electronic license application form. After ensuring the match, the relevant ministry employee will make a notation in the electronic system confirming the match.

If the individual commercial entity applying for the license is owned by a woman, she may complete the licensing procedures herself in accordance with the Sharia regulations, or she may appoint a representative – a Saudi national – through a legal agency that grants him the authority to make decisions and follow up on the procedures for obtaining the licenses, as well as representing her before the Ministry and relevant governmental and non-governmental entities, and he shall be responsible for managing the activities of the services for pilgrims.

The responsible manager, branch office managers, and supervisors of services must be Saudi nationals of good reputation and conduct, and none of them should have been convicted of a crime related to security breaches or sentenced to a legal penalty or a punitive measure for a crime that undermines honor or trust, as recorded in the criminal record, unless their status has been restored, or there has been any directive from official authorities preventing them from engaging in any activities related to the services for pilgrims.

The responsible manager may also be the manager of the existing branch office in the same city where the headquarters of the institution or company is located.

In the event of the termination or conclusion of the services of the responsible manager or the manager of one of the licensee's branch offices, the Ministry must be notified immediately. Additionally, a new manager must be appointed who meets the conditions stipulated in these regulations and the standards and requirements set by the Ministry within a period not exceeding fifteen days from the date the position becomes vacant. The Ministry must be notified of the name of the new manager no later than three days from the date of their registration in the Commercial Register.

Every licensee must register the employees in each branch office along with their nationalities, types of work, and responsibilities, and provide copies of their identification, work permits, and qualifications within thirty days from the date of obtaining the license through the electronic system. The licensee must also notify the Ministry of any amendments to their data in the same manner within three days from the date of the amendment.