Saudi Arabia suspends four companies for putting Umrah pilgrims in unlicensed housing

Saudi Arabia has imposed sanctions on four companies for supplying pilgrims for the Umrah pilgrimage with housing that was not licensed, authorities announced. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah disclosed that the companies, along with four agents, faced penalties due to violations affecting numerous pilgrims. The breaches involved placing pilgrims in unlicensed accommodations.

These firms have been forwarded to a committee to review pilgrim complaints, which may impose further sanctions. The ministry has cautioned companies offering Umrah services that they are subject to ongoing "field and digital monitoring" to ensure compliance with regulations. The Pilgrim Experience Programme, aimed at enhancing services for religious visitors, is part of Saudi Arabia's broader economic modernization strategy as it seeks to establish itself as a tourism hub.

Umrah, unlike the mandatory Hajj pilgrimage, can be performed throughout the year and holds significant spiritual importance for Muslims worldwide. This year, the ministry introduced a new Umrah visa enabling pilgrims to visit Saudi Arabia multiple times within a year, with a cumulative stay limit of 90 days. The current Umrah season extends until April 7, approximately five weeks prior to the anticipated start of Hajj in May 2027.