Monopoly concerns and $1M reserve fund – Religious Committee chairman comments on new licensing requirements for Umrah pilgrimage operators

"We are not monopolizing the market. We will announce a tender and select all tour operators who meet the requirements and have the necessary capabilities," said Toshboyev. He clarified that the $1 million guarantee is intended to cover the expenses of up to 1,000 pilgrims who may face unforeseen issues in Saudi Arabia. According to him, this measure stems from past experiences, where around 15,000 Uzbek pilgrims were stranded, and the previous $100,000 guarantee was insufficient to bring them back.

When asked whether only one firm would be selected to handle Umrah services after meeting the new financial requirement, Toshboyev dismissed this notion, stating, "This is being misinterpreted on social media. We are not creating a monopoly. Whether 10 or 15 firms meet the criteria, all qualified tour operators will be selected. It doesn’t mean that only the Muslim Board or four to five firms will remain. We will announce the tender today, and within 15 days, we will select the capable companies, which could be 15 or 20. There will be no price hikes; instead, there will be better-quality services."

Addressing concerns that the $1 million requirement might force tour operators to raise prices for Umrah packages, Toshboyev acknowledged that there may be some attempts but noted that in the past, 77 firms were licensed, and many others operated illegally without proper licenses. He stressed the importance of providing quality services, noting, "We are not doing this to create a monopoly. The focus is on ensuring that our citizens receive quality services, including medical care and reliable guidance while performing Umrah."

Toshboyev also emphasized that citizens can still obtain visas independently and perform Umrah without any restrictions. "There are no obstacles to this. The Nusuk program from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah allows citizens to apply for visas online from their homes. They can travel via direct flights or through Dubai or Turkey. There is no opposition to this option."

Toshboyev further mentioned concerns about the ideological influence on Uzbek pilgrims and noted that the committee is working to ensure that trained religious officials accompany citizens to provide proper guidance and support during their pilgrimage.