Egypt's government has issued a public warning to citizens about fraudulent Hajj and Umrah offers spreading across unofficial pages on social media, urging travellers to deal only with licensed operators before paying any money.

The alert was published by the Media Center of the Egyptian Cabinet on its official platforms on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. According to the statement, the Cabinet coordinated with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to verify the claims circulating online.

What the government said

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed that many of the Hajj and Umrah offers being shared through unofficial social media pages are fake. According to the ministry, these advertisements are run by unlicensed entities that aim to lure citizens and seize their money.

The ministry stressed that Hajj and Umrah trips are organised only through tourism companies that are licensed and approved by the ministry. It called on citizens to confirm that any company holds valid official licences, and that its legal standing is sound, before paying any sums or completing a booking.

Officials warned the public against following misleading advertisements or dealing with unofficial pages and unapproved bodies. They said verifying an operator's licence in advance helps protect citizens' rights and shields them from fraud and theft.

A wider crackdown on illegal operators

The warning came alongside news of an ongoing enforcement effort. According to the statement, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is continuing wide-ranging inspection campaigns targeting illegal entities that promote Hajj and Umrah programmes.

Those campaigns have already resulted in the closure of a number of violating operators. The ministry framed the action as part of a broader state effort to confront fraud and protect the rights of citizens who save for years to perform the pilgrimage.

Fraud tied to the pilgrimage is a recurring problem across many countries. Scammers often advertise unusually cheap packages, request quick payment to secure a place, and then disappear once money changes hands. Because demand for Hajj and Umrah far exceeds available places, pilgrims can be tempted by offers that seem to bypass long waiting lists.

How pilgrims can protect themselves

The Egyptian authorities pointed citizens to official verification tools and licensed companies rather than social media listings. The same principles apply to travellers in any country planning a pilgrimage.

  • Deal only with licensed operators. Confirm the company is registered and approved by your national authority before you pay anything.
  • Verify before you transfer money. Check the company's licence number and legal status through official government channels, not through the seller's own page.
  • Be wary of social media offers. Unofficial pages promising cheap or fast-tracked Hajj and Umrah packages are a common vehicle for fraud.
  • Avoid pressure to pay quickly. Genuine operators do not force instant payment to unnamed personal accounts.
  • Keep records. Retain contracts, receipts and written confirmations of every service included in a package.

Pilgrims who suspect they have encountered a fraudulent offer should report it to their national tourism or religious affairs authority. Verifying a company's credentials takes only a few minutes and can prevent the loss of both money and a long-awaited journey.