Services will continue as usual, and pilgrims with valid visas or reservations won't be impacted.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said on Sunday that 1,800 of the 5,800 foreign travel businesses that operate in the Umrah sector had their contracts suspended by Saudi Arabia.
A 10-day grace period was granted by the ministry to the impacted agencies to rectify performance and service quality issues discovered during the periodic evaluation.
The ministry claims that the ban only applies to newly issued visas and that it is a regulatory measure to assist agencies in resolving problems and enhancing adherence to established guidelines. Once the conditions are satisfied during the grace period, contracts will be reinstated.
The Ministry emphasized that services will continue as planned and that pilgrims with valid visas or those with current reservations will not be impacted.
Regulatory action would be taken against any agency that does not address its shortcomings by the deadline, according to Ministry Spokesperson Ghassan Alnwaimi. He stated that in order to improve the Umrah sector's dependability and protect pilgrims' rights, the ministry will keep using monitoring and assessment instruments.
Rules of the Umrah Agency
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah must formally authorize Umrah travel agencies. The Nusuk platform should be used to book and verify all Umrah packages, ensuring pilgrims have confirmed hotel reservations and authorized transportation before departing.
Agencies will have to strictly handle pilgrim paperwork starting in 2026, such as passports that are valid for at least six months, valid Umrah visas, and the necessary health insurance. These procedures aid in ensuring adherence, security, and a more seamless journey for devotees.
Rules for the validity of an Umrah visa
The Umrah visa's entrance validity has been shortened by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to 30 days from the date of issuance. The visa will be revoked and you will have to reapply if you do not enter Saudi Arabia within a month of its issuance.
The allowed stay, which includes your pilgrimage and travel within the Kingdom, is 90 days after you enter.
Before entering, pilgrims must obtain an Umrah permit using the official Nusuk app. The software handles reservations, ritual time slot scheduling, and QR-code admission authorization at the sacred mosques. It is not possible to enter Masjid Al Haram or Masjid An Nabawi without a valid Nusuk permit.
Confirmed reservations connected to the visa application are now required by Saudi Arabia. This comprises:
Accommodations (hotels with licenses)
Ground transportation (transfers from the airport)
Tickets for round-trip flights
Without a validated Booking Reference Number (BRN) demonstrating all necessary reservations, no visa will be granted.
The Saudi government has established strict deadlines for 2026 since the Umrah season must end before the Hajj season starts. Penalties for overstaying or being denied entrance may follow failure to meet these deadlines.
The deadline for obtaining a visa is March 20, 2026.
Pilgrims' last day of admission is April 3, 2026.
Date of mandatory departure: April 18, 2026
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