Egypt has introduced a sweeping set of new regulations for its 2027 tourist Hajj season, adding binding service contracts, digital journey monitoring and tighter safety rules for buses and accommodation. According to Hajj Reporters and Egyptian media, the measures were approved by Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy as part of early preparations for the 1448 AH pilgrimage.
Registration through licensed Egyptian tourism companies opened on September 4 and runs until September 27 on the Egyptian Unified Hajj Portal. An electronic public lottery for all tourist Hajj programme categories is scheduled for September 30.
Binding contracts and price ceilings
Under the new rules, the relationship between tourism companies and pilgrims is placed on a firm contractual footing. Companies and pilgrims must abide by the agreed services, prices, dates, accommodation standards and transport arrangements set out in their contract.
Any additional service must be covered by a separate contract that states its description and agreed price. Companies may not change accommodation or upgrade services at the holy sites without notifying the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and obtaining its approval. According to the ministry, the aim is to stop companies from imposing extra costs outside the agreed programme.
The regulations set out several programme levels, including Tourist Towers, Tourist Camps and Economy Air options in categories A, B and C, as well as overland Hajj tiers. The prices published for each category represent a maximum ceiling, with companies free to offer lower rates provided they deliver the advertised services.
The Rafiq app and pilgrim ratings
A central feature of the reforms is the Rafiq application, which companies must use to register each pilgrim and create an individual account when contracts are signed. Pilgrims will upload their travel contracts and payment receipts, and company supervisors must respond to reports and notifications from the ministry or the pilgrims themselves.
According to the ministry, Rafiq will record the main stages of each journey, from departure at an Egyptian port of exit to arrival at accommodation in Makkah and Madinah and the return home. It will also allow immediate reporting of illness, death or missing-person cases, strengthening communication between pilgrims, supervisors and officials.
For the first time, pilgrims will be able to rate the services they receive. The scoring system assigns tourism companies 50 percent of the total, supervisors 30 percent, and pilgrims' overall assessment 20 percent, judged against criteria such as accuracy of information and compliance with schedules.
Stricter transport and luggage rules
The regulations impose detailed requirements on overland Hajj. Buses must be 2023 models or newer, carry at least 40 passengers, and be fitted with functioning GPS tracking and speed limiters that may not be disconnected. Each vehicle must carry a reserve driver, and both drivers must be registered with the ministry and pass training and medical examinations.
Every bus must also carry wheelchairs, fire extinguishers, first-aid kits and spare parts for emergency breakdowns. Overland pilgrims must enter and leave Saudi Arabia through the Halat Ammar crossing on the Saudi-Jordanian border and follow ferry schedules at the Nuweiba and Aqaba ports.
On luggage, companies must label each pilgrim's bags with their name, passport number, flight number, hotel details and supervisor contact. Pilgrims are also advised to carry a backpack with enough essentials for 24 hours in case of delayed baggage. Accommodation in Makkah must be no more than 4,000 metres from the Grand Mosque.
Building on hard lessons
The reforms follow a difficult period for Egypt's private Hajj sector. The government revoked 36 tourism company licences after the deaths of hundreds of Egyptian pilgrims during the 2024 Hajj season, many of whom had travelled on unofficial arrangements. During the 2025 season, official figures show 7,500 Egyptians travelled on 180 approved overland trips, around 18 percent of the country's tourist Hajj quota of 40,672.
Practical tips for Egyptian pilgrims
Pilgrims should register only through licensed companies on the official Egyptian Unified Hajj Portal and complete their applications before the September 27 deadline. Keeping copies of the signed contract and all payment receipts, and uploading them to Rafiq, provides an important record if a dispute arises.
Travellers are encouraged to verify a company's licence status, confirm the exact distance of their Makkah accommodation from the Grand Mosque, and pack a small bag of medication and essentials for the first 24 hours. Booking early also improves the chance of securing better-located camps at the holy sites.