Saudi Arabia Closes 10 Travel Agencies for Offering Unauthorized Umrah Services

  • 13/07/2025

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has announced the closure of 10 unlicensed travel agencies in Riyadh after discovering that they were operating illegally and organizing unauthorized Umrah and pilgrimage packages.

The ministry stated that the agencies violated regulations by using unlicensed vehicles to transport pilgrims and by accommodating them in unauthorized facilities in Mecca and Medina.

This enforcement action is part of a wider crackdown to ensure that all tourism operations in the Kingdom comply with official licensing requirements, maintain service quality, and protect visitors and pilgrims from unsafe practices.

“The aim of this campaign is to protect the rights of tourists and visitors and improve the quality of services in line with the national tourism strategy,” the ministry said in a statement.

Under Saudi law, operators who violate tourism and licensing regulations can face fines of up to 50,000 Saudi riyals (SR). Repeat violators risk penalties of up to SR1 million, office closures, or both.

Officials urged the public to always verify the licenses of travel agencies and only deal with officially accredited operators to guarantee safe, legal, and reliable travel experiences, especially for religious journeys such as Umrah and Hajj.

The ministry also called on residents and tourists to report any violations or complaints related to travel and hospitality services by contacting the unified tourism hotline at 930.

This latest measure underscores Saudi Arabia’s continued commitment to strengthening oversight and regulatory compliance as it expands its tourism and pilgrimage sectors in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.

Related News

Saudi Arabia opens land ownership to expatriates from 2025
  • 09/07/2025
Saudi Arabia Named Partner Country for INNOPROM 2025 in Russ ...
  • 07/07/2025
Saudi Arabia and Indonesia Seal $27 Billion Deals Across Ene ...
  • 03/07/2025
Saudi Arabia Delivers $30 Million Aid Payment to Support Pal ...
  • 27/06/2025
Saudi Airports Advise Passengers Amid Airspace Closures Foll ...
  • 14/06/2025
Saudi Arabia to Launch Mandatory Home Delivery Permit System ...
  • 10/06/2025
UAE Leaders Congratulate Saudi Arabia on Successful Hajj 202 ...
  • 09/06/2025
Spiritual Completion: Pilgrims Begin Final Departure from Mi ...
  • 07/06/2025
Saudi Arabia Holds the Largest Oil Reserves Among GCC Nation ...
  • 06/06/2025
Hajj 2025: Pilgrims Advised to Identify Emergency Exits in A ...
  • 05/06/2025
Pilgrims Arrive in Mina Ahead of Arafat Gathering Tomorrow
  • 04/06/2025
Hajj 2025: World’s Largest Cooling System Installed at Mecca ...
  • 03/06/2025