United News of Bangladesh

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended contracts with about 1,800 foreign Umrah travel agencies, giving them 10 days to resolve compliance issues identified during a routine performance review. The action affects agencies operating in the Umrah sector out of an estimated total of 5,800, after evaluations found weaknesses in service quality and overall performance, according to Saudi Press Agency. The ministry clarified that the suspension is limited to the issuance of new Umrah visas and is intended as a regulatory step to allow agencies time to address classification and compliance shortcomings. Contracts will be reinstated once the required standards are met within the given timeframe. Read More: Hajj visa applications to open from February 8 Umrah pilgrims who already hold valid visas or have confirmed reservations will not be impacted, as services for them will continue without disruption, the ministry said. The ministry stressed that enforcing approved classification criteria and performance benchmarks is essential to improving compliance among service providers and ensuring services meet required standards. Protecting the rights of Umrah pilgrims and maintaining uninterrupted services remain key priorities. Ministry spokesperson Ghassan Alnwaimi said agencies that fail to correct deficiencies within the deadline will face regulatory action. He added that monitoring and evaluation mechanisms will continue to be used to strengthen the credibility of the Umrah sector and safeguard pilgrims’ rights.