How to Start an Umrah Agency: Licences, Saudi Partner and First Season

Short answer: to start an Umrah agency, register a travel company in your country and obtain its Umrah or travel licence, then sign up as the external agent of a licensed Saudi Umrah company through Nusuk Masar. Line up hotels and transport through that partner, set your package prices, and run your bookings, visas and payments in one system before your first group travels.

This is a general business guide, not legal advice. Rules change each season; confirm every requirement with your regulator and your Saudi partner.

What licences does an Umrah agency need?

Two layers. At home, your country's licence to sell Umrah or package travel. In Saudi Arabia, a contract with a company licensed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, under which you act as its "external agent". Our external agent guide covers the Saudi rules in detail.

Summarised from official sources listed in our external agent guide (opened 31 Oct 2026). Other countries: ask your tourism or religious-affairs ministry.

Step by step: from company to first group

1. Register the company and open a business bank account that can send payments abroad.
2. Get your home licence from the regulator in the table above, and IATA accreditation if you will issue tickets.
3. Choose a Saudi Umrah company as your partner. Compare their hotels in Makkah and Madinah, transport, payment terms and support.
4. Prepare the documents: the latest published Saudi list (season 1445) asked for a commercial register certified at home and by the Saudi mission, IATA membership, details of a senior official and a guarantee of SAR 200,000 in favour of the Saudi company.
5. Qualify and sign on Nusuk Masar when your partner starts the process. For 1448 AH this opened on 11 May 2026.
6. Contract hotels and transport through your partner, because visas depend on documented housing.
7. Price and publish packages, then start selling directly and through sub-agents.
8. File visas and send groups, with confirmed return tickets for every pilgrim.

How do you plan your first season?

Work backwards from the Saudi calendar. For 1448 AH, the Ministry opened bookings for preliminary agreements on 4 March 2026, external-agent qualification and final contracts on 11 May, provider contracts on 12 May, and visa issuance and arrivals on 31 May. The last visa date is 9 March 2027. Our 1448 season guide lists every date.

Which suppliers do you need?

• Your Saudi Umrah company for housing, transport and services inside the Kingdom.
• Airlines or a consolidator for group seats.
• Hotels in Makkah and Madinah, usually through your partner's allotments. See our hotel allotments guide.
• Ground transport and ziyarat; see the transport scheduling guide.

How should a new agency price Umrah packages?

Build each package from its real costs: flight, hotel nights in each city, transport, visa and services, then add your margin. Costs are mostly in Saudi riyals and sales in local currency, so store the exchange rate on every booking. Our package pricing guide and agency accounting guide show the method with illustrative numbers.

Should you sell through sub-agents?

Many agencies grow by letting smaller agents sell their packages. That needs clear margins per tier, agent balances or credit, and booking rules. Our B2B agent network guide explains how to set it up.

What systems does a new Umrah agency need?

At minimum: a way to build packages, take bookings, track each pilgrim's passport and visa status, produce rooming lists, and keep three ledgers apart (pilgrims, agents, suppliers). Spreadsheets work for one small group; they break once you run several departures or sell through agents. The Umrah software buyer's checklist lists what to look for.