The authorities temporarily suspended the B2C Umrah visa for Egyptians after 1,300 deaths were recorded during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. However, among the pilgrims who died were older people, and the number of pilgrims who died in Egypt was higher, with over 600 casualties.
The authorities believe the current situation during Hajj is due to unregulated visa issuance. However, the Saudi authorities mentioned that all other types of Hajj visas are still available in Egypt, but the B2C visa has been suspended temporarily.
The B2C (Business-to-Consumer) Umrah visa is an electronic visa that eliminates mediators, such as travel agents. It allows Umrah pilgrims to book travel directly through Saudi Arabia's online Umrah portal.
The B2C Umrah visa allows a person to use the Umrah portal, obtain a visa independently, and plan and organize their trip. However, after the incident that occurred during Hajj, this type of visa will no longer be available.
The incident during Umrah Hajj was tragic and should not have happened. The main reasons were extreme heat and the presence of many unregistered pilgrims.
The suspension will only be lifted for Egypt when there is an organized travel agent in the country to plan, organize, and oversee all the requirements of the pilgrims. Until then, the visa will remain suspended. Some other conditions may include:
In response to the tragic loss of life during the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage, the government has taken decisive action against tourism companies that violated regulations.
Key Actions:
These measures aim to prevent future incidents, hold accountable those responsible for the violations, and provide support to the affected families.