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Uzbek
The government of Uzbekistan has adopted a resolution to further improve the measures related to the organization and conduct of the Umrah pilgrimage. The new rules impose strict requirements on tour companies involved in organizing Umrah to enhance service quality and prevent illegal activities.
Key Changes and Requirements
Under the new regulations, tour companies must meet the following conditions to obtain a license:
- Appointment of a Group Leader: Tour companies are required to appoint a specialist with religious knowledge and skills, based on an agreement with the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan.
- Qualified Staff: Each company must have at least one specialist on staff who is a graduate of a religious educational institution or the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan.
- No Service for Minors: Companies are prohibited from providing pilgrimage services to citizens under the age of 18.
- Financial Guarantees: Tour operators must reserve $1 million in the Ziyorat Fund to ensure the reliability of their operations.
- Prohibition on Intermediaries: Companies must organize trips without involving other tour operators or travel agents.
- Umrah Visa Only: Pilgrims may only be provided with an Umrah visa for travel to Saudi Arabia. The use of other types of visas for the pilgrimage is considered illegal activity.
Preventing Fraud and Unauthorized Activities
The Committee for Religious Affairs emphasized that the stricter regulations are aimed at preventing fraud and unauthorized activities related to the organization of Umrah.
Ensuring Safety and Professionalism
These measures are designed to ensure the safety of pilgrims, raise the level of professionalism in service, and uphold religious standards. The new rules are expected to increase transparency in the organization of the pilgrimage and eliminate potential abuses by unscrupulous companies.
It is worth noting that, as of October 5, the organization of Umrah has become a licensed activity. From that date, all companies offering services for Umrah must obtain a special license.
The article may contain inaccuracies as it is translated by AI. For more details, please refer to the Russian version of the article. If you notice any inaccuracies, you can send corrections via the Telegram bot: Uzvaibik_bot.
