In Uzbekistan, a separate license will be introduced to organize the Umrah pilgrimage
The Legislative Chamber adopted the bill on the legal regulation of the Umrah pilgrimage in the first reading. According to it, a type of license will be introduced for activities related to the organization and conduct of pilgrimage .
Deputies of the Legislative Chamber conceptually considered and accepted the bill on the legal regulation of Umrah pilgrimage in the first reading at the meeting held on March 26, Gazeta reports . en . The draft law envisages the introduction of a type of license for activities related to the organization and conduct of the Umrah pilgrimage.
It is planned to designate the Committee on Religious Affairs as the licensing body. At the meeting of the Legislative Chamber, it was noted that the purpose of the draft law is to legally regulate the Umrah pilgrimage of citizens and ensure the rights of pilgrims.
The document envisages the introduction of additional norms on the provision of services related to the organization and holding of the Umrah event to the Law "On Licensing, Permitting and Notification Procedures".
The need to develop the draft law was explained by the fact that the lack of clear legal mechanisms for the organization and implementation of Umrah events does not allow the rights of pilgrims to be fully protected.
We remind you that until March 1, the activity of organizing the Umrah pilgrimage was carried out through a tourist license. By the decree of the President of January 9, starting from March 1, 2024, the license for the implementation of tourist activities (tour agency activities) was replaced by the notification procedure. However, it was noted in the decree that the activity of organizing and holding Umrah events is excluded.
On August 8, 2023, the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on additional measures to effectively protect the interests of pilgrims in the organization and conduct of Umrah events was adopted.
According to the decision, tourist activities related to the provision of services related to the organization and holding of Umrah events are to be carried out only by local tour operators. In addition, the following additional license requirements and conditions were introduced for the provision of Umrah services:
Set aside not less than $100,000 for the Safe Tourism Fund of the Tourism Committee;
Appointment of specialists with religious knowledge and skills on the basis of the contract concluded with the Office of Muslims of Uzbekistan as leaders of the group of pilgrims during Umrah services;
The presence of at least one specialist in the state of the tour operator providing Umrah services who is a graduate of a republican educational institution in the fields of religious (Islamic) education or a relevant bachelor's degree or master's specialty of the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan;
Not to provide Umrah services to minors;
Implementation of Umrah services in accordance with the contract to be signed between the partner organization in Saudi Arabia.
Also, on the basis of the request of the tour operator providing Umrah services, the following procedure was introduced to attract a specialist of the Office of Muslims of Uzbekistan to the pilgrims as a group leader (fifty head):
the specialist's service related to guiding groups of pilgrims is carried out free of charge, his travel expenses (transportation, hotel, food, insurance, visa fees, etc.) are covered by the tour operator providing Umrah services;
according to the request of the specialist tour operator, it will be allocated by the Office of Muslims of Uzbekistan in 3 working days;
A group of no more than 50 pilgrims is assigned to 1 group leader.
The additional license requirements and conditions specified in the decision will be applied from November 1, 2023, and it is determined that the fee paid for the review of the application and the state duty for the license will not be collected from them when renewing the license.
