Saudi Arabia suspends contracts of 1,800 foreign Umrah agencies

Pilgrims holding valid visas or confirmed bookings will continue to receive services without disruption

Saudi Arabia has suspended contracts with 1,800 foreign agencies involved in Umrah visa services as part of a regulatory review of the sector.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the move on Sunday, citing weak services and operational errors among the affected agencies out of nearly 5,800 foreign operators, according to Khaleej Times.

The agencies have been given 10 extra days to correct deficiencies, the UAE daily said.

The suspension only applies to new visas, and contracts will be restored if shortcomings are resolved within the period.

Pilgrims with valid visas or completed bookings are not affected and will receive uninterrupted services.

Ministry spokesperson Ghassan Alnwaimi said agencies failing to meet the standards will face punitive action.

He added the ministry will continue monitoring the sector to ensure reliability and protect pilgrims’ rights.