, Feb. 1 -- Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended contracts with about 1,800 foreign Umrah travel agencies, giving them 10 days to resolve compliance issues identified during a routine performance review.

The action affects agencies operating in the Umrah sector out of an estimated total of 5,800, after evaluations found weaknesses in service quality and overall performance, according to Saudi Press Agency.

The ministry clarified that the suspension is limited to the issuance of new Umrah visas and is intended as a regulatory step to allow agencies time to address classification and compliance shortcomings. Contracts will be reinstated once the required standards are met within the given timeframe.

Umrah pilgrims who ...