Agency Participation Standards & Traveler Safeguards
How KaabaSharif approaches agency participation
KaabaSharif helps U.S. travelers submit one Umrah request and compare personalized quote options from participating U.S. Umrah agencies. KaabaSharif is an independent quote coordination platform, not the travel agency that issues the booking.
Our goal is to make the early quote process easier to understand while keeping the traveler in control of which agency they choose to contact.
Before an agency participates
Agencies are asked to provide business, contact, service and operating information through the KaabaSharif Agency Partnership Registration process. KaabaSharif reviews the information provided for completeness and fit with the platform and may request additional information before sending traveler requirements.
This review is not a guarantee of an agency’s performance and should not be treated as a government, regulatory or financial certification.
Standards for quote options
Participating agencies are expected to prepare quote options that are based on the traveler requirements they receive and to make important assumptions clear. A useful quote should identify, when applicable:
- flight itinerary, baggage and cabin assumptions
- Makkah and Madinah hotel names and room arrangements
- number of nights in each city
- Saudi transportation included in the quote
- visa or entry assistance included, when applicable
- meals, Ziyarat, guides or other included services
- important exclusions
- deposit, change, cancellation and refund terms provided by the agency
Final availability, final pricing, contracts, payment instructions and travel services remain the responsibility of the agency selected by the traveler.
Traveler contact information during quote gathering
KaabaSharif does not initially provide participating agencies with the traveler’s direct contact information simply because a quote request was submitted. Agencies receive the trip requirements needed to prepare an option. The traveler decides whether they want to connect with an agency after reviewing the options available to them.
What participation does not mean
Participation on KaabaSharif does not mean that KaabaSharif guarantees an agency, guarantees a trip, guarantees a visa, guarantees a particular price or promises that every traveler will receive a certain number of quotes.
Travelers should review the agency, written quote, final contract, payment instructions and applicable terms before making a payment.
Traveler checklist before paying an agency
- Confirm the exact business or agency name you are dealing with.
- Make sure the written quote identifies what is included and excluded.
- Confirm hotel names, room arrangements and transportation details.
- Confirm flight details and baggage when flights are included.
- Read deposit, cancellation, change and refund terms.
- Confirm who receives the payment and what the payment is for.
- Keep copies of your quote, contract, receipts and important messages.
- Ask the agency about any licenses, registrations, memberships or credentials that are important to you.
Concerns about a participating agency
If a traveler reports a serious concern about an agency or quote, KaabaSharif may review the information available and reevaluate whether that agency should continue receiving quote opportunities through the platform. KaabaSharif does not replace regulators, law enforcement, payment providers or the traveler’s contractual rights with the selected agency.
Learn more
Read How KaabaSharif Works, see how to compare Umrah quotes, or start an Umrah request.
