Umrah is the trip many Malaysian families save years for, and it is also where some of the costliest travel frauds happen. In January, 36 pilgrims who had each paid RM7,600 to Al Aisy Travel & Tour came home from Madinah after the company failed to arrange their hotels, transport and return flights. MOTAC revoked its licence from 31 March 2026.
Most agencies deliver. The point of the checks below is to find the few that won't before your money leaves your account, and every check uses a free government page.
Step 1: Check the licence on MOTAC's list
An umrah agency needs a tour operating licence from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) under the Tourism Industry Act 1992 (Act 482), covering outbound umrah or ziarah trips. MOTAC publishes the list at motac.gov.my, under Semakan, "Agensi Pelancongan Umrah". The MyGov portal links to the same page.
- Type the company's registered name (the *Sdn Bhd* name, not the brand on the poster) in the search box, or filter by state.
- Read the Bidang column. It must include *Umrah atau Ziarah*. A licence for *Inbound* or *Ticketing* only does not cover umrah.
- Read the Tempoh column. The validity dates should cover your departure and return.
- Match the No Lesen and address to what the agency gave you. A branch should appear as *Cawangan* under the same company.
When we checked on 6 November 2026, the list showed 1,200 records: 719 head offices and 481 branches.
Step 2: Check the advert's IU number
From 1 January 2026, MOTAC's guideline on umrah and ziarah advertising requires every advert, including social media posts, to be approved by the Tourism Commissioner first. Only the agency's head office can apply. An approved advert must show:
- the company name, address and licence number
- the approval number, in the format IUxxxx
- the price, including takaful umrah for each pilgrim
- how long the trip is, and the itinerary
- the terms and conditions, or a link to them
- a contact phone number
A package sold through a WhatsApp forward or a personal Facebook account with no IU number fails this test, even if the company behind it is licensed. MOTAC will not approve adverts from a company under suspension, with a prosecution in progress, or with unpaid compounds or unpaid tribunal awards.
Step 3: Read the price like an auditor
MOTAC has no published minimum price in force. In July 2026, Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing announced plans for a floor price and a standard list of services for each package tier, but no amount or start date has been given.
Use the airfare as a sanity check instead. The umrah operators' association PAPUH said in July that a return flight alone costs about RM3,600 to RM4,000, so a full package priced near that is a warning sign. Ask for the airline, the hotels in Makkah and Madinah (with their distance from the mosque), the number of nights in each city, and whether the visa and takaful are included, all in writing.
Step 4: Know what protects your deposit, and what doesn't yet
MOTAC planned to make outbound and umrah agencies lodge a bank guarantee from 15 May 2026, a fund that can repay customers if an agency collapses. On 11 May it postponed this to 1 January 2027, citing the conflict in the Middle East and its effect on agencies' finances. Until then, nothing like that protects your deposit, so pay in stages and keep every receipt.
If it goes wrong
- Make a police report at the nearest station, with receipts, chats and the advert.
- Complain to MOTAC through its SISPAA portal or on 03-8000 8000. MOTAC can suspend or revoke a licence under Section 8 of Act 482.
- File at the Tribunal for Consumer Claims (TTPM) online through e-Tribunal at ttpm.kpdn.gov.my. It hears claims of up to RM50,000, made within three years, for a RM5 filing fee. Failing to obey an award within 14 days is an offence.
- If you are stranded in Saudi Arabia, contact the Malaysian Embassy in Riyadh or the Consulate General in Jeddah.
Operating without a licence carries a fine of up to RM500,000, up to 10 years' jail, or both. In the Dewan Rakyat in August 2025, the government reported 204 umrah fraud complaints and RM3.6 million in losses from 2024 to May 2025.
Saudi dates to plan around
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah set the 1448H season: visas from 31 May 2026, last visa issuance on 9 March 2027, last entry on 23 March 2027, and last departure on 7 April 2027. Every pilgrim also needs a permit through the Nusuk platform, which the agency normally arranges.
*Sources: MOTAC's umrah agency register and Garis Panduan Kelulusan Iklan Untuk Pakej Umrah Atau Ziarah (in force 1 January 2026), MOTAC's 11 May 2026 bank guarantee statement, its enforcement and Al Aisy licence notices, the MyGov umrah checklist (updated 21 October 2026), TTPM's FAQ, Malay Mail (8 January 2026), NST/Bernama (4 July 2026), Utusan Malaysia (24 July 2026), Bernama (5 August 2025) and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (17 May 2026), all read 6 November 2026.*
*Cover image: Adli Wahid / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (the Kaaba during hajj, 2018)*
