Pakistan’s New Umrah Rules 2026: What Changed and Who is Affected

Pakistan’s new Umrah rules, notified in July 2026 under the Hajj and Umrah (Regulation) Act 2024, require every Umrah travel company to be verified by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony (MORA) before it can legally book pilgrims. Clarify how long the verification process takes and when operators are expected to be fully compliant to help pilgrims plan accordingly.

For a country that sends hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to Makkah and Madinah outside the Hajj season each year, that’s a meaningful shift from a sector that has long operated with minimal formal oversight.

Why the Rules Exist: The Hajj and Umrah (Regulation) Act 2024

The July 2026 notification implements the Hajj and Umrah (Regulation) Act 2024, which President Asif Ali Zardari signed into law in August 2024. Before the Act, Umrah operators in Pakistan sat in a regulatory grey zone — the ministry managed Hajj policy under Supreme Court directives. Still, no formal licensing regime covered Umrah group organizers.

Requirement	Detail
Operator verification	Umrah companies must confirm their agreements with the ministry via its published procedure to be listed as approved
Booking restriction	Pilgrims should book only through operators on the ministry’s official verified list
Payment method	Package payments must go through banking channels, not cash
Documentation	Pilgrims must retain payment receipts, contracts, and booking documents
Complaint eligibility	The ministry accepts complaints only against officially verified operators
Oversight body	A new Umrah Policy Committee drafts the full policy, subject to federal cabinet approval

Why the Rules Exist: The Hajj and Umrah (Regulation) Act 2024

The Act introduced four structural changes:

Licensing authority. The ministry now licenses both Hajj Group Organizers (HGOs) and Umrah Group Organizers (UGOs) and can penalize violations.
Complaint Disposal Committees (CDCs). A four-member CDC, headed by an officer of at least BPS-20 rank, handles complaints about negligence, contract violations, or hardship caused to pilgrims.
Penalties. Violating operators face denial of listing, license suspension or cancellation, and reduced Hajj or Umrah quotas. In serious cases, the CDC can forfeit an operator’s performance guarantee.
Separate funds. The ministry must maintain distinct funds for Hajj and Umrah rather than one combined pool.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has described the reform as an accountability measure aimed partly at reputational harm, including past cases of people traveling to Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage visas for begging, which he has said embarrasses Pakistan and undermines pilgrims performing a genuine religious duty.

Also read: Saudi Arabia Puts Umrah Meals Under Digital Watch

The Umrah Policy Committee

The ministry has formed an Umrah Policy Committee to draft the comprehensive policy the Act requires. It is chaired by the Additional Secretary of Religious Affairs, with one senior representative each from the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Law and Justice, plus the Cabinet Division. The committee consults stakeholders and drafts policy, which then requires federal cabinet approval before taking effect. The same process Hajj policy has followed for years, now extended to Umrah.

What Happens If You Book an Unverified Operator

Pilgrims who book through an unregistered or unverified company do so at their own risk. The ministry has stated plainly that it will only process complaints against companies on its approved list — there is no formal recourse through the ministry for disputes with unlisted agents. This makes checking the operator list before payment a practical necessity, not just a recommendation. Emphasize the potential risks and safety implications of booking with unverified operators to inform pilgrims’ decision-making.

The Bottom Line for Families Planning Umrah

Check the ministry’s website for the verified operator list before booking, pay through a bank rather than in cash, and keep every document the agent provides. The legal protection the new Act offers only extends to pilgrims who book through verified channels. The policy framework itself is still being finalized. Enforcement consistency outside major cities remains untested.

FAQ: Pakistan’s New Umrah Rules

What is the Hajj and Umrah (Regulation) Act 2024?

It’s the Pakistani law, signed by President Asif Ali Zardari in August 2024, that for the first time gives the Ministry of Religious Affairs formal authority to license, monitor, and penalize Umrah operators — a role it previously held only for Hajj. To build trust and confidence, pilgrims should verify that an Umrah operator appears on the official list on the Ministry of Religious Affairs website before booking or paying, ensuring they are dealing with approved entities. Understanding that violations can lead to license suspension, quota reduction, or forfeiture of guarantees, pilgrims and operators should strictly follow the rules to stay compliant and avoid penalties.
Can I file a complaint against an unregistered Umrah agent?

No. The ministry has stated it will only accept and process complaints against operators that are officially verified and listed on its website. To help pilgrims feel secure and prepared, they should pay through formal banking channels and retain all booking documents, including receipts and contracts, for their records. Understanding that violations can lead to license suspension, quota reduction, or forfeiture of guarantees, pilgrims and operators should strictly follow the rules to stay compliant and avoid penalties.
Who oversees Umrah policy in Pakistan now?

The Umrah Policy Committee, chaired by the Additional Secretary of Religious Affairs, with members from the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Law and Justice, and the Cabinet Division. Its policy proposals require federal cabinet approval.