Domestic Pilgrim Services

Domestic Pilgrim Services refer to the services offered to pilgrims performing Hajj rituals among the residents and citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Domestic pilgrim services are offered by licensed establishments and companies according to the Law of Domestic Pilgrim Services, promulgated in 2005. The law determines the legal rules governing the provision of these services and the procedures for licensing domestic pilgrim services.

The regulations for organizing domestic pilgrim services were first issued in 1989. The Law of Domestic Pilgrim Services was then established in 2005, containing thirty-three articles, and replaced the previous regulations. In 2015, a clause was added to Article Twenty-Two, addressing law violations, ways to resolve them, and specifying the entity responsible for handling disputes related to violations of the Law of Domestic Pilgrim Services. In 2023, the Implementing Regulations for the Law of Domestic Pilgrim Services were issued.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah offers a range of e-services on its website. These services serve domestic pilgrims and facilitate contact therewith. These include inquiring about the licensed companies and establishments for domestic pilgrims services. This service ensures the beneficiaries' easy search for authorized Hajj companies and establishments and enables them to view their information and details of the offered services. The ministry also enables beneficiaries to book and obtain Hajj permits for both citizens and residents. This service allows beneficiaries to display all domestic pilgrim services programs and select a suitable program and establishment for contracting. It also enables them to inquire about the status of booking or canceling an appointment to obtain a Hajj permit.

Licensed establishments and companies should ensure they have the necessary financial, administrative, and operational capabilities before offering services. They should provide services at prices consistent with the level of services offered, including transportation, accommodation, catering, and care. The establishment's owner should personally manage the work or delegate it to the establishment's registered manager with the approval of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The company's general manager should personally manage the work meeting the same requirements as the establishment's owner. He may delegate it to a partner under certain conditions with the ministry's approval and should employ only Saudis for administrative tasks and contracts with pilgrims.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah coordinates with sectors involved in Hajj, such as pilgrimage companies, Hajj services, and the Coordinating Council for Domestic Pilgrims' Service Facilities (Mutahid), to enhance services in line with the Saudi Vision 2030. The council is an independent legal entity under the supervision of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. It was established in 2013. The main role of the council is to coordinate between domestic pilgrims' service facilities and government and private entities.

To ensure the sustainability of domestic pilgrims service facilities and activate their role in terms of social responsibility and volunteering, the council launched several initiatives and programs, including "Jadir" program related to initiatives in the fields of social responsibility, "Wahi" program comprising all initiatives that contribute to the awareness and education of domestic pilgrims' service facilities and guests, and Musaned program covering initiatives that support key works of domestic pilgrims' service facilities. The council also established the Volunteering Unit which is concerned with all processes related to attracting, registering, managing, and regulating the affairs of volunteers in the Holy Sites.

The number of licensed domestic pilgrims' service facilities amounts to around 182 facilities. Their work covers the cities and governorates of the Kingdom. Domestic pilgrims in 2024 amounted to 221,854 pilgrims among citizens and residents.