Egypt has approved a fresh set of rules for its 1448 AH/2027 tourist Hajj season, introducing binding service contracts, digital monitoring of the pilgrimage journey and stricter oversight of accommodation, transport and pilgrim protections.
New Rules Set For Egypt’s 2027 Tourist Hajj Season
At the centre of the changes is the expanded use of the Rafiq application. Tourism companies will be required to register pilgrims on the app and set up individual accounts once contracts are signed. Through it, pilgrims can upload their contracts and payment receipts, track key stages of their journey, file complaints, and rate the services they receive. Cases involving illness, death or missing persons can also be reported through the platform in real time.
Pilgrim Feedback Now Counts
Pilgrim feedback will now carry real weight in how companies are judged. Under a new evaluation system, ratings submitted by pilgrims will make up 20 percent of a tourism company’s overall performance score, with company performance itself contributing 50 percent and supervisor performance the remaining 30 percent. Officials say the goal is to push operators toward higher standards of organisation, communication and service delivery.
Stricter Contracts And Accommodation Rules
Contracts must now clearly spell out any additional services and their prices, and companies will no longer be able to change accommodation or holy-site arrangements without first securing approval from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. On the accommodation front, hotels housing pilgrims in Makkah must be within 4,000 metres of the Grand Mosque.
New Standards For Overland Transport
Transport rules have also been tightened considerably. Overland Hajj buses must be from 2023 or newer, carry a minimum of 40 passengers, and be fitted with tracking devices and speed limiters. Each vehicle must also have two medically cleared drivers on board, along with first-aid kits and emergency equipment, reflecting a broader push for safer road journeys to the holy sites.
Registration Timeline
Registration for the season opens on September 4 and runs through September 27, processed through licensed tourism companies via the Egyptian Unified Hajj Portal. An electronic lottery to allocate places will follow on September 30.
Also Read: Saudi Arabia Deploys Drones Over Makkah To Catch Illegal Pilgrims This Hajj Season
Legal Framework And Context
The updated framework was issued under Law No. 84 of 2022. The law governs Hajj and establishes the Egyptian Unified Hajj Portal. It also falls under Law No. 38 of 1977, which regulates tourism companies. The Ministry said the full regulations will be published on the Central Administration for Tourism Companies’ portal.
They will also be shared with the Egyptian Travel Agents Association. The association will distribute them to operators running tourist Hajj programmes. The move comes as Egypt continues to update its Hajj logistics. Last season, around 7,500 Egyptians travelled overland. They made the journey across 180 bus trips. This accounted for around 18% of Egypt’s tourist Hajj quota. The quota had more than 40,000 places.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/Muhammad Khawar Nazir
FAQs
When will the Hajj lottery take place?
The electronic lottery for Egypt’s Tourist Hajj programmes is scheduled for September 30.