The chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs, Sadiqjon Toshboev, supported the request to deposit $1 million for the Umra license. "This is not a big amount... If there was a problem with those 15,000 people, we could not bring back even 100 people for the 100,000 dollars invested," said the representative of the Religious Committee. He also gave information about going to Umrah pilgrimage independently.

On October 15, the chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs, Sadiqjon Toshboev, gave a small interview to "Kun.uz" about the new conditions of the Umra license within the framework of the international conference in Tashkent.

About the requirement to deposit 1 million dollars

"It's not a big amount. As you probably know, before that there was a [obligation] to deposit $100,000. At that time, about 15 thousand of our citizens remained in Saudi Arabia, all of them were brought by the government. You didn't cover it once... I mean, if $1 million goes into props, $600 for airlines, $600 for hotels, and other services there, [$1 million] is enough for a thousand people. "If there was a problem with those 15,000 people, we could not bring back even 100 people for the 100,000 dollars invested," said Toshboev.

He noted that this condition is being misinterpreted in social networks.

"We are not monopolizing, whether there are 10 or 15 travel agencies that have the potential [to fulfill the conditions], all travel agencies will pass here. This does not mean that there will be only one Muslim office or 4-5 firms. We are announcing the competition today, we will select travel agencies within 15 days. Maybe 15, maybe 20, whoever has the opportunity, we will put those. There will be no increase in prices, but quality service will be provided," said the chairman of the committee.

"It's not just about finance"

"Last time we gave licenses to 77 companies, how many more were operating illegally. Neither has a license, only a travel agency has opened it. You see the conditions for yourself when you take it to sleep. Our goal is not to monopolize or anything. We should say thank you, our citizens were able to perform Umrah only twice a year before. Currently, about 560,000 of our citizens have gone to Umrah. Let everyone go, but we must provide quality service there. Even if he has a medical condition, even if he is in his fifties," said Sadiqjon Toshboev.

"To whom are we entrusting our citizens who went there?" We were giving fifty head. Next time, we see on social networks, what will be the ideological "work" of those who went there? Who is serving our "umrachi"? If they are [accompanied] by educated, religious workers... it becomes difficult to correct them ideologically after their return. "It's not just about finances," he said.

About going to Umrah independently

"It's easy, there are no obstacles. There is a program of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia called Nusuk, [or online tourist visa] from the comfort of your home, if you want. If he wants, he can go via Dubai or Turkey, if he wants, he can take a direct flight. There is no objection to that. You can easily buy it from your home, and Saudi Arabia has also made it easy. Only our citizens have a wrong understanding," said the chairman.

We remind you that the following license requirements and conditions are being introduced for tour companies organizing Umrah pilgrimage from October 5:

to appoint a specialist with religious knowledge and skills as a group leader for pilgrims based on a contract concluded with the Office of Muslims of Uzbekistan;

the presence of at least one specialist who is a graduate of an educational institution in the field of religious education or the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan in the state;

not providing services to minor citizens;

reserve 1 million dollars for the "Ziyarat" fund;

not to carry out their activities through tour operators and travel agents;

issuing only Saudi Arabia Umrah visa for pilgrims (carrying citizens with other visas is an illegal activity);

accommodation of pilgrims in hotels with a category of no less than 3 stars;

Not to provide Umrah service through third countries;

Not to perform Umrah service through a representative office and branch located in a place other than the address specified in the license.

In addition, Umrah services should be performed in accordance with the contract signed between the partner organization in Saudi Arabia and the payments for the services provided by them should be made through banking institutions.