Mashable:The United Arab Emirates has recently announced much stricter rules for Hajj and Umrah.

According to the Khaleej Times, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE) announced strict new Hajj and Umrah rules in the UAE on Monday, May 27, 2024.

Aimed at streamlining the process and ensuring the well-being of Emirati pilgrims, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments announced that operators in the region cannot receive applications or requests for Hajj or Umrah without prior approval.

Operators in the UAE are required to obtain prior approval before receiving applications or requests for Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages, according to the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments.#uae #hajj #AajNews #umrah pic.twitter.com/yZT3fT8zVB — Aaj TV English (@AajNewsEnglish) May 27, 2024

The new rules include provisions for organizing pilgrimage campaigns, the licensing processes, as well as penalties for violations by individuals, campaign organizers, or offices.

The authority also announced hefty fines of up to Dh50,000 on anyone misusing the services and facilities designated for the UAE Hajj Affairs Office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or while performing the holy pilgrimage without proper authorization from the authority, GAIAE.

These new amendments are designed to help regulate the activities and the performance of rituals while ensuring that licenses for, both Hajj and Umrah campaigns are issued in compliance with the existing laws and under the proper jurisdiction of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments.

The new regulations also order obtaining a license before engaging in activities related to organizing Hajj or Umrah trips to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This includes arranging, advertising, and soliciting participants of Hajj or Umrah, as well as collecting donations, all of which are forbidden without a license.

Meanwhile, the UAE Hajj Affairs Office is the official state representative of the Emirates during the Hajj season.