The right to organize Umrah events has been granted to local tour operators

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In accordance with the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On additional measures to effectively protect the interests of pilgrims when organizing and conducting Umrah events,” local tour operators of our country are given the opportunity to organize and conducting Umrah.

According to the resolution, additional licensing requirements and conditions are established for the activities for the provision of Umrah services:

Create a reserve in the amount of at least US$100,000 dollars in the Safe Tourism Fund of the Committee on Tourism;

During the Umrah, appoint specialists with religious knowledge and skills as leaders of groups of pilgrims on the basis of an agreement concluded with the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan;

- the staff of a tour operator providing Umrah services must have at least one specialist who is a graduate of a republican educational institution in the areas of religious (Islamic) education or with a bachelor’s or master’s degree from the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan;

- it is prohibited to provide the Umrah service to minors;

To conduct a pilgrimage, an appropriate agreement must be concluded with a partner organization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

From 1 October 2023, a rating system for the activities of tour operators providing the Umrah service will be introduced in Uzbekistan. The grading system will be announced on the website of the Committee for Tourism.

The additional license terms specified in the decision will apply from 1 November 2023.