SA travel operators concerned over new Hajj directives

SOUTH African travel operators are concerned following an official announcement regarding the facilitation of Hajj and Umrah packages for the upcoming year.

- NADIA KHAN

Last month, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Mohu) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued a new directive, which fundamentally changed the way in which pilgrimages are organised, removing the role of local tour operators in the process.

Hajj, an annual pilgrimage to Mecca, is one of the five pillars of Islam and a religious duty that must be carried out at least once by Muslims, provided that the person is healthy, fit and financially able.

Previously, travel operators completed an application with the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) based on requirements from the Mohu. Once all the requirements were met, the operators would be accredited and were required to achieve the minimum quota as stipulated by the Mohu.

Moaaz Casoo, the president of Sahuc, said the new directive was part of a broader global initiative to streamline the Hajj process and improve service delivery to pilgrims from all participating countries.

“In line with these efforts, the Mohu has introduced structured timelines and critical milestones that must be met in preparation for the upcoming pilgrimage. While the full implementation of the directive will commence in 2026, it will have a significant impact on how Hajj is organised for South African pilgrims going forward.”

Casoo said the new framework introduced by the Mohu would exclude the traditional model of utilising licenced tour operators for the facilitation of Hajj from South Africa.