Morocco Introduces New Banking Rules for Hajj Pilgrimage Expenses

The adoption of these new measures follows the implementation, by the Saudi authorities, of a new process. This requires travel agencies to open, in their name and through the Saudi tour operator, a secure account controlled by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, funded via a dedicated platform, prior to obtaining the visa to enter Saudi Arabia.

The banks domiciling the "Omra" files are now authorized to pay in advance, according to the aforementioned procedure, the total amount of accommodation costs for Moroccan pilgrims in the city of Mecca, including visa and transportation fees, upon presentation of a detailed invoice of the expenses to be incurred, the Foreign Exchange Office said in a circular letter addressed to the Professional Group of Banks of Morocco (GPBM).

The same source specifies that Moroccan banks are authorized to pay in advance, up to 50%, the amount invoiced by the Saudi providers for accommodation costs, upon presentation of a pro forma invoice. Then, the balance must be transferred upon presentation to the bank of the nominal list of pilgrims supported by a copy of the visa for entry into Saudi Arabia bearing the Omra mention, the individual contracts concluded between the travel agency and each pilgrim and the contracts signed between this agency and the Saudi providers.

Finally, the travel agency that ordered these transfers is required to produce to the bank domiciling the Omra file the documents justifying the use of the amounts advanced for this purpose, within a maximum period of three months after the completion of the operation. In the event of cancellation of service contracts or non-performance of services, the travel agency is required to repatriate the transferred currencies without delay, it is specified.