Govt Approves New Private Hajj Policy 2027–2030
The Federal Cabinet has approved a new Private Hajj Policy for the period 2027–2030, introducing major reforms aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and digital management of the Hajj system.
According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the revised policy replaces the traditional quota system with a performance-based approach. Under the new framework, private Hajj operators will be evaluated on efficiency, compliance, and transparency, with allocations made on a “first come, first served” basis.
A key requirement of the policy is that private Hajj companies must secure at least 2,000 pilgrim bookings to remain active. Firms failing to meet this threshold will be declared inactive, and a portion of their security deposit may be forfeited. Their registered pilgrims will be transferred to other eligible operators.
To further improve standards in the sector, independent experts will assess and rank Hajj operators. Licenses will be issued for a three-year period based on performance and regulatory compliance. The policy also strictly prohibits the sale or transfer of Hajj quotas, with authorities warning of action against any illegal practices.
The government has also introduced a fully digital system for managing Hajj operations. All bookings will be processed through a dedicated online portal linked with relevant national databases to ensure verification and transparency.
Under the new rules, manual bookings and cash-based transactions will no longer be allowed. In addition, private companies will not be permitted to directly handle pilgrims’ funds. Instead, payments for services will be processed through official banking channels to ensure greater financial control and accountability.
The ministry stated that these reforms are intended to modernize the private Hajj system and improve service delivery for pilgrims.
