Umrah packages: how to check the agent is safe
We don't sell Umrah packages. This is the official checklist from the UK government, UK police and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for checking any package before you pay.
Umrah package checklist: 6 checks before you pay
- Check the ATOL number on the CAA's Check for ATOL search and make sure it matches the company you are paying.
- Get an ATOL Certificate as soon as you pay anything, even a deposit. A new one should come with any change.
- Research the company even if friends or family recommended it. The FCDO warns that criminals can advertise even through licensed travel companies.
- Pay by credit card where you can, keep a record of every payment, and get everything confirmed in writing, including the terms and conditions.
- Ask which Saudi Umrah company handles your trip, and check it on the ministry's licensed Umrah companies lookup.
- For an Umrah visa package, the hotel should be registered on Nusuk Masar before the visa is issued (rule in force since June 2025).
Umrah package from the UK: what ATOL covers
ATOL (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) is the UK Civil Aviation Authority's financial protection scheme for package trips that include a flight. It is not travel insurance. If an ATOL holder fails, the scheme can help protected customers, depending on the situation. It can keep your accommodation abroad, pay you back for replacing protected parts of the trip, or arrange your flight home.
- ATOL Certificate: it shows what is protected, who is covered, and the name and ATOL number of the business protecting you. Keep a copy with you on the trip.
- Flight-only is different: if you got a valid e-ticket straight away when you paid, that flight is not ATOL protected.
- Not every product is covered: the CAA warns that some arrangements sold by ATOL holders may not be protected, so ask before you book.
Umrah packages 2026: the fraud figures
UK government travel advice warns that UK-based organised crime groups target people planning Hajj or Umrah, and that many victims are over 65. City of London Police said on 26 March 2026 that UK victims lost £195,752 to Hajj-related fraud in 2025, across 34 reports, with the largest single loss over £64,000. Reports peaked in April and May.
In one case the police described, a victim paid over £4,000 for a full package. Days before departure they still had no flight tickets, hotel details or itinerary, and the agency refused refunds, citing "reservation fees" without proof of bookings. Missing documents close to departure are a warning sign.
Cheap Umrah packages: red flags
- A price that seems too good to be true (warned by both the FCDO and UK police).
- No ATOL number, or one that doesn't match the company on the CAA search.
- No ATOL Certificate after you pay a deposit.
- No written terms and conditions.
- No flight tickets, hotel names or itinerary close to departure.
- Visas or permits sold outside Nusuk (warned by the US State Department).
Booking from the US, Canada or Australia
- United States: the State Department warns of fraudulent tour operators selling Hajj and Umrah packages, and fake visas and permits sold outside Nusuk. US citizens can do Umrah on a tourist eVisa, an Umrah visa or a transit visa, but not in the Hajj season.
- Canada: official travel advice says Muslim tourists can perform Umrah with any type of visa.
- Australia: Smartraveller says a permit is needed to perform Umrah and to visit the Rawdah, and calls Nusuk the only approved platform for Hajj visas and services.
None of these three governments publishes an Umrah package checklist like the UK's, so the ATOL steps above apply to UK bookings only.
Approved Umrah travel agents in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's Nusuk Umrah providers list shows the ministry's approved Umrah service providers. These are Saudi companies; your local travel agent will not be on it. Nusuk Umrah sells packages directly, and if none is offered for your country you can contact a listed provider for a custom package. More in our Nusuk app guide.
If something goes wrong
In the UK, report Umrah or Hajj fraud to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) or your local police. Inside Saudi Arabia, the ministry's beneficiary centre on 920002814 also takes complaints about Umrah companies.
Frequently asked questions
Are Umrah packages from the UK ATOL protected?
Only if the travel company holds an ATOL and the package includes a flight. UK government travel advice tells you to make sure your Umrah agent or operator is ATOL protected. You should receive an ATOL Certificate as soon as you pay anything.
How do I check an Umrah travel agent's ATOL number?
Search the Civil Aviation Authority's "Check for ATOL" tool on atol.org by company name, trading name or ATOL number, and make sure the result matches the ATOL the company advertises. ATOL numbers have four or five digits and may start with a T.
Are cheap Umrah packages a scam?
Not always, but UK police and the FCDO both warn against deals that seem too good to be true. Research the company even if friends recommended it, pay by credit card where you can, and get everything in writing.
Is a Hajj package ATOL protected too?
No. UK police advice says Hajj packages are not ATOL protected. That is different from Umrah, where the FCDO tells you to use an ATOL-protected operator.
Can I buy an Umrah package directly from Saudi Arabia?
Yes, through Nusuk Umrah (umrah.nusuk.sa), the official Saudi platform, which sells packages from the ministry's authorised Saudi providers. Packages depend on your country of residence.
Where do I report an Umrah package scam in the UK?
Report it to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) or your local police. The FCDO also lists the City of London Police Fraud Desk.
Planning it yourself instead? Start with which visa you can use and hotels near the Haram.