Tashkent ( WNAM MONITORING ): The Committee for Religious Affairs has issued licenses to two additional travel companies to organize Umrah pilgrimages, according to a statement from the agency’s press service.
Earlier this year, in March, the Committee announced the acceptance of applications from tour operators seeking to obtain the relevant license. The application period ended on April 7. Following a review, the selection commission decided to grant licenses to Centrum Holidays and Buxoro Umra Jamiyati.
With this, the total number of travel firms authorized to organize Umrah pilgrimages has reached 14.
It is worth recalling that in November 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers approved an initial list of 12 companies granted the right to conduct Umrah tours. The list included six firms from Tashkent, three from Namangan, and one each from Andijan, Margilan, and Urgench.
According to established requirements, to obtain a license, a pilgrimage organizer must contribute one million dollars to the “Ziyorat” charitable fund and enter into an official agreement with a partner organization in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, tour operators are responsible for the medical support of pilgrims, as well as their food, accommodation, and other organizational arrangements.