Mr. Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, has approved the regulations, rules, and procedures governing the organization of the 1447 AH tourist Hajj, in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 84 of 2022 regulating Hajj, and Law No. 38 of 1977 on Tourism Companies. The decision aims to ensure a well-organized pilgrimage season and achieve the highest levels of excellence and quality in services provided to Hajj pilgrims through tourism companies.
These new regulations are designed to enhance and improve the efficiency of the tourist Hajj system in an integrated manner.
Applications for citizens wishing to perform Hajj through tourism companies will be accepted starting today, Wednesday, October 15, until October 30. The Minister directed that registration open well ahead of the Hajj season to allow sufficient time for completing all required procedures and to ensure full preparedness of both the ministry and tourism companies for the upcoming pilgrimage season.
The electronic public lottery for selecting pilgrims across all Hajj tourism categories will be held on November 4.
Ms. Samia Sami, Assistant Minister for Tourism Companies Affairs and Head of the Higher Committee for Hajj and Umrah, stated that this year’s regulations include a variety of programs catering to different social segments. These programs comprise several categories: Five-Star (Kadana Towers Level A & B), Economic (Levels A, B & C), and Land (Levels A, B & C), offering multiple options to suit different social and economic groups.
For the first time this year, a new program named “Five-Star Kadana Towers” has been introduced, offering accommodation inside towers rather than tents during the pilgrimage period.
She also announced that all Hajj tourism programs have been reduced in price compared to last year, with discounts ranging from EGP 5,000 to EGP 20,000 per program. This measure reflects the state’s commitment to easing the financial burden on citizens while maintaining high-quality services for Hajj pilgrims. The reduction was made possible by improved hotel and transport contracts in Saudi Arabia, better organizational efficiency, and increased competition among tourism companies, which has positively affected overall costs without compromising service quality.
The majority of Hajj visas have been allocated to the economic and land categories to accommodate broader social segments and increase citizens’ chances of obtaining a Hajj visa.
Ms. Sami emphasized that those who have already registered for Hajj through the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Social Solidarity lotteries will not be eligible to apply for the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities’ electronic lottery, in accordance with directives from the Ministerial Higher Committee for Hajj, to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all citizens.
Among the key provisions for the upcoming Hajj season:
• Buses used for land pilgrimages must be modern (model year 2020 or newer), equipped with GPS and speed limiters, and carry no more than 40 passengers to ensure safety and comfort.
• Tourism companies may independently organize their own Hajj programs without forming partnerships with other companies, provided the number of pilgrims is no less than 47 at the same level.
• Citizens holding individual Hajj visas must register their data with licensed tourism companies to be entered into the unified Egyptian Hajj portal.
The Ministry will circulate these regulations to the Egyptian Travel and Tourism Agencies Association to inform companies and prepare for registration and the start of the season.
Minister Sherif Fathy has also instructed continuous monitoring of tourism companies organizing Hajj programs and strict action against any company found to be in violation of its contractual obligations to pilgrims, ensuring the protection of Egyptian pilgrims throughout the season until the return of the final Hajj flights.
The Ministry urges all tourism companies to comply fully with the approved regulations, in line with the laws governing tourism companies and Hajj organization. Legal measures will be taken against any violating company.
The Ministry also warns citizens against dealing with unlicensed or unauthorized entities advertising Hajj programs, stressing the importance of contracting only with officially licensed tourism companies verified by the Ministry. Dealing with illegal operators may result in financial fraud or legal consequences in Saudi Arabia for violating visa conditions.
The Ministry further clarified that holders of non-Hajj visas will not be entitled to Ministry support in reclaiming funds, urging everyone to adhere strictly to official procedures.
Ensuring the safety of citizens and protecting the rights of licensed Egyptian tourism companies remain top priorities for the Ministry, which continues to coordinate closely with relevant authorities to ensure full compliance with the official Hajj regulations.
It is worth noting that several intensive meetings of the Higher Committee for Hajj and Umrah have been held recently, attended by representatives from the Ministry’s Central Administration for Tourism Companies, the Egyptian Tourism Federation, and the Egyptian Travel Agents Association, to draft and refine the Hajj regulations for 1447 AH, as well as coordinate with other ministries and relevant bodies involved in the process.
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