he Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in cooperation with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, has launched the awareness campaign agreed upon by both sides. This comes as part of the implementation steps of the recommendations made by the Joint Coordination Committee between the two ministries. The campaign began with the issuance of the Egyptian Pilgrim’s Guide, aiming to raise Egyptian pilgrims’ awareness of the requirements, regulations, procedures, and guidelines that must be followed when performing Umrah rituals, helping facilitate their pilgrimage and ensure their safety.
This initiative also comes in implementation of the recommendations resulting from the recent meetings held in Cairo between Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, and Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, as well as the coordination meetings between representatives of the two ministries in Jeddah and Makkah, Saudi Arabia, during January. These meetings aimed to develop the Umrah and tourism Hajj systems and improve the quality of services provided to Egyptian Umrah pilgrims and tourism Hajj pilgrims.
In this context, Samia Sami, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Tourism Companies Affairs and Head of the Supreme Committee for Hajj and Umrah, explained that the guide was prepared through cooperation between the two ministries, serving as a tangible outcome of the ongoing coordination between both sides.
She stated that the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has published the Egyptian Pilgrim’s Guide on the Egyptian Umrah Portal. The guide will be sent to the Egyptian Chamber of Tourism Companies and Travel Agencies for distribution among tourism companies, which will then provide copies to all pilgrims for reference. Printed copies will also be distributed to pilgrims in airport departure halls, and the guide will be made available through various communication channels. This aims to ensure that instructions and guidelines reach the largest possible number of pilgrims clearly and directly, helping raise awareness of the procedures governing Umrah trips and strengthen safety measures and compliance throughout the journey.
She added that the guide is also available in digital format through a QR code, allowing pilgrims to access it easily via their mobile phones and ensuring wider distribution among as many pilgrims as possible.
Umrah Travel Procedures
The Egyptian Pilgrim’s Guide contains the essential information pilgrims need before and during their Umrah journey, starting with visa application procedures, followed by preparations for the journey from religious and legal perspectives, as well as departure procedures from the Arab Republic of Egypt and return procedures from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Performing Umrah Rituals and Health & Safety Guidelines
The guide also includes a simplified explanation of the Umrah rituals and how to avoid mistakes while performing them, in addition to health and safety guidelines. It also introduces the most important services available within the Two Holy Mosques, as well as highlighting the أبرز landmarks and cultural attractions in Makkah and Madinah.
Furthermore, the guide provides an overview of the Egyptian Umrah Portal, emphasizing that it is the only legal and secure channel for organizing Umrah trips in accordance with the law governing its operations. It also urges citizens to deal exclusively with tourism companies licensed by the Ministry and officially registered on the portal.
Contacting the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
As part of its supervisory and service responsibilities, the guide includes contact details and direct communication channels with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for receiving inquiries and complaints within Egypt through the hotline (19654).
While in the Holy Lands, pilgrims can contact the Ministry's committees stationed permanently in Makkah and Madinah throughout the season. These committees operate 24 hours a day to provide immediate assistance and resolve any difficulties pilgrims may encounter on the ground.
The guide also provides a dedicated hotline for reporting unauthorized entities, helping protect citizens' rights and prevent any attempts at fraud or scams.
