Algeria has published the final list of travel agencies authorised to organise the Hajj for the 1448 AH season, which corresponds to 2027. According to the National Office of Hajj and Umrah, known by its French acronym ONPO, 55 agencies have been cleared to arrange pilgrimages. The list was issued following a decision by the Minister of Religious Affairs and Wakfs.
The announcement, reported on 29 September 2026, sets the framework through which Algerian pilgrims will book their journeys for the next Hajj season. By naming an approved roster, the authorities aim to channel pilgrims toward vetted operators and reduce the risk of fraud. The step is part of the country's regular preparation cycle for the pilgrimage.
A regulated roster of operators
The approved list combines public and private operators. According to ONPO, it includes two national public operators, Touring Voyages Algérie and the National Tourism Office, known as ONAT, alongside a larger group of private travel agencies. Together these firms will handle the logistics of flights, accommodation and ground services for pilgrims.
The authorities also set out where pilgrim flights will depart. According to the announcement, authorised agencies will operate from several airports across the country. These include Algiers Houari Boumediene International Airport as well as regional hubs in Oran, Constantine, Tlemcen, Batna, Ouargla, Annaba, Ghardaia, Laghouat and Tamanrasset.
Spreading departures across multiple cities is intended to make travel easier for pilgrims who live far from the capital. It also distributes the operational load during the busy pilgrimage period. The ONPO framed the measure as part of implementing the ministerial decision on authorised agencies.
By combining large public operators with private agencies, the system aims to balance reliability with choice. The public operators bring established capacity for handling large groups. The private agencies add flexibility and competition, which the authorities hope will improve the services offered to pilgrims.
Part of a wider Hajj 2027 build-up
Algeria's announcement arrives as countries across the Muslim world finalise their arrangements for the 2027 Hajj. Saudi Arabia has moved its contracting for foreign pilgrims onto digital platforms, requiring external operators to be qualified and to finalise agreements electronically through the Nusuk system. National bodies such as ONPO sit at the start of that chain, selecting the agencies that will then deal with Saudi systems on pilgrims' behalf.
In recent weeks, several countries have confirmed quotas, opened registration or set deadlines for the 2027 season. The naming of approved agencies is a parallel step that determines who may actually carry pilgrims. For a national authority, publishing a vetted list is a core tool for maintaining standards and accountability.
For Algerian pilgrims, the practical effect is that only firms on the approved list may legally organise their Hajj. Booking with an unlisted operator carries both legal and financial risk. The authorities typically warn against informal arrangements that fall outside the official framework, particularly offers that appear online or through social media.
What pilgrims should do
Pilgrims preparing for the 2027 season can take a few clear steps. First, check that any agency appears on the official ONPO list of authorised operators before making a payment. Second, book through the airport and operator that match your region, using the published departure points as a guide.
Third, it is wise to keep written records of all payments and to insist on a contract that details the services included, such as flights, accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, and transport. Fourth, pilgrims who encounter agencies claiming to offer Hajj places outside the official list should treat such offers with caution and verify them with the ONPO. Confirming details early, well before departure dates approach, helps avoid last-minute problems.