SRINAGAR: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended 21 companies providing services to Umrah pilgrims after inspections and performance reviews uncovered regulatory violations and declining service standards, the ministry said.
Hajj Ministry Suspends 21 Umrah Companies over Performance Violations.https://t.co/dJMz2aiFR8#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/65HBxRjOr1
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The action comes as the Kingdom prepares for the upcoming Umrah season and intensifies efforts to strengthen oversight, improve service quality and protect the rights of pilgrims.
According to the ministry, the decision followed comprehensive evaluations conducted after the previous Umrah season. The assessments identified shortcomings in service delivery by several operators, as well as breaches of regulations governing Umrah services.
Of the suspended firms, 15 were penalised for recording low performance scores based on approved evaluation indicators, while six others were suspended for regulatory violations that required legal and corrective action, the ministry said.
The ministry stated that its evaluation framework is based on operational and supervisory indicators designed to measure service quality and ensure compliance with established regulations.
Officials said the system aims to encourage healthy competition among service providers, raise industry standards and support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 by delivering a safe, efficient and high-quality experience for Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque.
Reaffirming its commitment to strict regulatory enforcement, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said it would not tolerate shortcomings that adversely affect pilgrims or compromise service quality.
The ministry added that continuous monitoring and evaluation of service providers remain central to its strategy for developing the Umrah sector and enhancing the overall pilgrim experience.
The latest enforcement action follows a similar measure in February, when Saudi authorities suspended the contracts of around 1,800 foreign travel agencies operating in the Umrah sector.
At the time, the ministry said the affected agencies were granted a 10-day grace period to rectify deficiencies identified during periodic assessments of performance and service quality. The suspension was limited to the issuance of new visas, with contracts eligible for reactivation once compliance requirements had been met.
According to the ministry, such measures form part of an ongoing regulatory framework aimed at improving accountability, enhancing service standards and ensuring pilgrims receive the level of service expected under the Kingdom’sevolving Umrah system.
