A newly implemented Saudi requirement mandating meal packages for Egyptian Umrah pilgrims is drawing mixed reactions from industry insiders, as travel agencies grapple with logistical burdens and pilgrims face mounting costs.
The policy requires Egyptian travel companies to select and contract with meal providers through Saudi Arabia’s official Umrah platform for pilgrims arriving from Egypt, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, with plans to expand the requirement to other nations later.
While officials frame the initiative as an upgrade to service standards, industry leaders argue the execution places an unfair operational burden on agencies. Basel El-Sisi, a member of the General Assembly of Travel Companies, pointed out that managing food service adds an unnecessary layer of oversight for operators.
He noted that while budget packages average 40 to 50 Saudi riyals ($11 to $13) per person per day for two meals, which he said was reasonable relative to local food costs, requiring travel agencies to contract with and monitor meal providers adds to their responsibilities.
A more practical approach, El-Sisi suggested, would have been to require host hotels to bundle meals directly into accommodation rates rather than create a separate contracting process.
The policy shift comes at a challenging financial moment for Egyptian pilgrims. Daily meal rates start at 25 Saudi riyals (about $7) and can reach up to 100 riyals (about $27), depending on the tier selected by the agency. For a standard 10-to-15-day itinerary, this adds an estimated minimum of 5,000 Egyptian pounds (about $100) per pilgrim.
Ehab Abdel Aal, treasurer of the Egyptian Federation of Tourism Chambers, warned that the mandatory service adds to families’ costs as broader travel expenses rise. Recent 20% increases in airfares have already pushed flight prices to between 20,000 and 22,000 Egyptian pounds ($400 to $440), up from 17,000 pounds ($340) at the start of the season.
“The cost was modest compared with what pilgrims would spend on food separately and the companies could choose packages suited to their programs and customers’ budgets,” an official at Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities told Al Manassa.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media, said the system would provide pilgrims with services similar to those offered to hotel guests. However, travel agencies have questioned whether they should be responsible for contracting with and monitoring meal providers rather than leaving meals to hotels.
