Qatar: Qatar's Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has identified five unlicensed offices arranging Umrah, a minor Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the ministry said. The offices were discovered during routine inspection tours carried out by the Ministry's Hajj and Umrah Affairs Department as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with regulations governing the Umrah sector.

According to Qatar News Agency, the ministry stressed that operating without a license is a clear violation subject to legal accountability. It urged the public to deal only with licensed offices and to avoid unapproved providers, warning that doing otherwise could risk procedural errors or the loss of rights.

The ministry also advised customers to ensure any contract with a licensed office is clear and complete and to review all details carefully before completing registration, in order to protect their rights and ensure proper procedures.