Egypt, Saudi Arabia join efforts to enhance Hajj, Umrah services

CAIRO – For the first time, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is collaborating with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to enhance the Hajj and Umrah system and raise the quality of services provided to Egyptian pilgrims. The initiative involves intensive training aimed at developing the skills of supervisors from Egyptian religious tourism companies specialising in organising Hajj and Umrah trips. The programme is being conducted at the ministry’s headquarters in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital.

The training course implements recommendations from the joint coordination committee between the Egyptian and Saudi ministries. Its goal is to increase awareness among Egyptian pilgrims of the regulations, procedures, and guidance necessary to perform Umrah safely and efficiently, thereby facilitating the pilgrimage experience and ensuring the welfare of participants.

The programme follows a tragic season in 2024, when the disorganisation of some Egyptian tourism companies partially contributed to the deaths of hundreds of pilgrims, most of whom had travelled outside official frameworks. In response, Egyptian authorities warned that companies arranging travel outside official channels would face decisive action and the strictest penalties.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced the creation of a special task force to monitor and manage the crisis surrounding the deaths of Egyptian pilgrims. He stated: “Investigations will be opened against any company that organised travel for these deceased pilgrims outside legal frameworks, circumventing formal procedures and failing to provide logistical services.” He added that decisive measures and severe sanctions would be enforced to prevent such violations from recurring.

On Wednesday, Egypt’s Assistant Minister of Tourism for Tourism Companies and Head of the Higher Committee for Hajj and Umrah Samia Sami inaugurated the training programme. She described the initiative as a cornerstone for developing human resources, emphasising that supervisors form the backbone of ensuring the safety and comfort of Egyptian pilgrims on the ground.

The course aims to enhance expertise and align supervisors with the latest Saudi standards in crowd management and logistical services, thereby improving the overall experience for pilgrims.

Director of the Licensing and Training Centre at the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Ayad Fadl highlighted that the collaboration reflects the close ties between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He underscored the pivotal role of company supervisors in delivering a safe and fulfilling spiritual experience.

The training covered strategic areas including humanitarian hospitality, managing sensitive cases, stress and crisis management techniques during Hajj, and public health and safety measures to minimise heat stress.

The programme concluded with the awarding of official completion certificates to 80 Egyptian supervisors, accredited jointly by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. This ensures that the pilgrims’ religious journey is managed by trained personnel in accordance with the latest international standards across the Holy Mosques and sacred sites.

As part of the initiative, the Egyptian Pilgrim Guide was launched as the programme’s first practical output. The guide will be made available on Egypt’s Umrah portal, sent to the Egyptian Chamber of Travel and Tourism Companies for distribution to agencies, printed for distribution at airports, and shared through social media and other communication channels. This approach aims to reach as many pilgrims as possible, providing clear instructions and raising awareness of the procedures and safety measures to be followed throughout the Umrah journey.

The initiative also follows recommendations from recent meetings in Cairo between Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy and Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq al-Rabiah, as well as coordination meetings held in Jeddah and Mecca earlier this month. These discussions focused on improving the Umrah and Hajj tourism system and enhancing service quality for Egyptian pilgrims.

By combining intensive training, official guidelines and bilateral cooperation, the Egyptian and Saudi ministries aim to ensure that Egyptian pilgrims receive safe, organised and high-quality religious travel experiences, reflecting the deepening partnership between the two nations.