New Rules & Regulation

MOH Circular – Ref. No. 9904174/1428H dated 24.02.1428H

On the occasion of the start of the new Umrah Season 1428H and to ensure what has been issued by the Council of Ministers Decree No. 93 for the Year 1420H regarding Umrah performances and its guide lines and to execute previously given instructions regarding service to Umrah Performance.

For this reason the following guide lines to be followed for this season has been issued as follows:

1.                  Reduction of percentage where issuing MOFA will be suspended:

a.       The system for MOFA issuance shall be automatically suspended (temporarily) for any foreign agent whenever proved through computerized follow up that the percentage of staying behind Umrah performers reaches 3% of those who have actually arrived through that agent until they depart.

b.      The system for MOFA issuance shall be automatically suspended (temporarily) by the Ministry for any Saudi Company or establishment in any country in the world whenever proved through computerized follow up that the percentage of staying behind Umrah performers reaches 5% of those who have actually arrived from that country through the company or establishment until they depart. And for the year 1429H they will be suspended when it will reach to 2%.

c.       The system for MOFA issuance shall be automatically suspended (temporarily) by the Ministry for any Saudi Company or establishment in all countries in the world whenever proved through computerized follow up that the percentage of staying behind Umrah performers reaches 10% of those who have actually arrived through that company or establishment until they depart and this will be done from the start of the season step by step.

2.                  Before activation of the system for issuing MOFA numbers for any licensed Umrah Operator, he should present to Ministry of Hajj his work plan for the services of Umrah Performances for the whole Umrah Season that includes number of MOFA and external agents every month with reference to their transportation mode (by air, seas or land) from the start of the Umrah period in the appropriate manner of arrival and this has to be approved by the concerned section in the Ministry of hajj and should be entered in the system for issuing MOFA numbers and follow-up, that it is respected and performed. In case his work plan does not comply with the actual MOFA numbers issued, MOFA numbers issuing would be suspended temporarily in the system until it is justified to ministry of hajj, then Ministry will decide as to how many MOFA numbers can be issued after that.

3.                  To continue the work as per the 1427H Guidelines step by step to ensure issuing of MOFA numbers and follow it up in the system that can ensure that the number of escapes will not increase by failing to depart on time.

4.                  The External Agent should provide a bank account in one of banks in his country confirmed by Saudi Embassy and recognized by the Saudi Monitory Agency that account operates in that country for giving bank guarantees and for paying packages amounts.

5.                  The Foreign Agent in all the countries of the world shall be an authorized member of IATA.