Egyptian Government Warns Against Fake 'Hajj and Umrah' Offers on Social Media Platforms - Sarmad

The Egyptian Cabinet warned citizens on Wednesday against Haj and Umrah offers and advertisements circulating on unofficial social media pages.

In a statement, the Cabinet’s Media Center said that the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities had reported that circulating Haj and Umrah advertisements include fake offers from illegal entities aiming to lure citizens and seize their money. The ministry warned against falling for such advertisements or dealing with unapproved entities.

The ministry emphasized that Haj and Umrah trips are organized only through licensed and approved tourism companies, which can be verified via the ministry’s official website. It stressed the importance of confirming that a company holds official licenses and has a sound legal status before making any payments or completing booking procedures.

The ministry further urged avoiding dealings with unofficial entities or pages, in order to protect citizens’ rights and prevent them from falling victim to fraud and scams.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities noted that it continues to carry out extensive inspection campaigns against illegal entities promoting Haj and Umrah programs. It explained that these campaigns have resulted in the closure of several violating entities, as part of state efforts to combat fraud and scams and safeguard citizens’ rights.

Earlier, the ministry announced the seizure and closure of 2,063 unlicensed entities across various governorates that were organizing and selling tourism trips and programs, including Haj and Umrah packages, without obtaining the necessary licenses.