MENA’s largest online travel marketplace, Wego, has announced a strategic partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to launch a fully integrated digital platform to simplify the Umrah journey for pilgrims globally. The collaboration is a key step in Saudi Arabia’s push to deliver a seamless, digitally-driven pilgrimage experience under its Vision 2030 framework.
Quick Facts
- Partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
- End-to-end platform for flights, hotels, and ground services.
- Includes facilitated Umrah visa request submissions for pilgrims worldwide.
A Seamless End-to-End Pilgrim Journey
The new platform brings together Wego’s travel technology with the Kingdom’s network of licensed Umrah service providers to offer a streamlined booking process. In a single, intuitive flow, travelers can book flights, verified hotels, and licensed ground services, alongside facilitated Umrah visa requests.
Under the new model, Wego will manage the marketing, sales, and customer transactions, while licensed local operators handle on-ground service delivery. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will maintain a regulatory and supervisory role to ensure compliance and quality standards. All transactions will be processed in Saudi Riyals at the time of booking, increasing transparency and removing unexpected on-ground costs.
“Through our collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, we are enabling a more seamless and transparent Umrah journey powered by technology,” said Mamoun Hmidan, Chief Business Officer at Wego. “By integrating flights, facilitated visa request processes, verified accommodations, and licensed ground services into one unified platform, we are enhancing the overall pilgrim experience.”
Tailored Experiences for Every Pilgrim
To cater to different needs and preferences, the platform will offer three distinct service tiers.
- Essential: Provides core services, including airport reception and dedicated on-ground support.
- Standard: Adds intercity transportation between Makkah and Madinah.
- Premium: Offers a personalized journey with private transfers, curated sightseeing, and 24/7 support.
The platform also incorporates consumer protection policies, such as flexible booking modifications and clear refund eligibility, to build traveler trust. With multilingual support and dedicated customer service channels, the initiative aims to be accessible to pilgrims from diverse global markets.
The platform is scheduled to launch in June 2026, coinciding with the start of the new Umrah season.
About Wego
Wego is the number one travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It enables travelers to search, compare, and book flights and hotels across hundreds of travel providers. The company is backed by investors including Tiger Global, Ares Management, Square Peg Capital, MBC Group, and Arqaam Capital. Wego is dual-headquartered in Singapore and Dubai.
Source: Zawya
