Makkah-Madina Travels and Tours expands Umrah-plus packages amid rising visa hurdles

Dhaka : Bangladeshi travelers are showing growing interest in combining Umrah with visits to Egypt and Jordan, while tighter visa and immigration requirements are making Middle Eastern travel increasingly complex, according to Md Moynul Islam, Proprietor of Makkah-Madina Travels and Tours.

The eight-year-old agency specializes in customized Umrah-plus packages and was among the first Bangladeshi operators to introduce itineraries combining Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan. Islam said the three-country package remains the agency's most popular offering.

The company maintains offices, staff and operational facilities in all three destinations, including a contracted hotel and catering operation in Egypt. It also has its own transportation arrangements and local manpower, allowing it to provide Bangladeshi food and guides for travelers.

The agency sends groups of around 30 to 40 people, with two or three groups typically traveling each month. During Ramadan, however, the focus shifts almost entirely to Umrah. Islam said the agency sent more than 500 pilgrims during the last Ramadan, including eight to 10 groups.

Outside Ramadan, the company also handles family and customized trips. Its group packages generally target standard and VIP travelers rather than economy customers, with hotel options ranging from three to five stars.

Md Moynul Islam

An eight-day Umrah package starts at BDT 160,000 per person, while a 14-day Umrah-Egypt package begins at BDT 230,000. The 17-day Umrah-Egypt-Jordan package starts at BDT 320,000. The packages include airfare, accommodation, meals, transportation and sightseeing.

In Egypt, itineraries include the Pyramids, museums, the Nile, Salahuddin Ayyubi Citadel and Alexandria, while Jordan packages feature Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea. Saudi itineraries cover major religious and historical sites in Makkah and Madinah.

Islam said visa restrictions are becoming a significant challenge for Bangladeshi travelers. Jordan requires visitors to have a sponsor who receives them at the airport and completes the necessary immigration procedures when they leave.

Egypt has also become more difficult to access, he said, citing tighter screening following cases of travelers overstaying their visas. The agency processes applications through its local contacts in Egypt and coordinates passenger information with immigration authorities before departure.

Islam said the cost of one Egypt visa processed through this route has risen sharply from about USD 70 previously to USD 400, with travelers paying an additional USD 30 for the visa sticker.

He said these restrictions are making travel more complicated for both agencies and passengers.

Makkah-Madina Travels also handles Hajj, corporate travel and customized VIP tours, with Islam saying the agency plans to continue expanding its specialized religious and international travel offerings.