Saudi tourism ministry launches diploma program

The initiative aims to provide graduates with employment opportunities in the tourism sector and keep up with its significant growth in Saudi Arabia by providing quality educational programs. (SPA)
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Updated 13 July 2024
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Saudi tourism ministry launches diploma program

  • The course — which is part of the Tourism Education Initiative — is geared towards providing students with the necessary practical expertise to fulfill job market requirements

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, has introduced a two-year diploma course in travel and tourism.

The course, according to a statement, aims to “enhance human capabilities by qualifying highly efficient national cadres in the travel and tourism sector, according to the highest international standards, to provide a theoretical and practical educational experience in the fields of travel and tourism.”

The course — which is part of the Tourism Education Initiative — is geared towards providing students with the necessary practical expertise to fulfill job market requirements.

The Tourism Education Initiative is intended to develop quality educational programs with leading national and international academic institutions to provide graduates able to enter employment in the tourism sector and keep up with its significant development in the Kingdom.

 


Saudi Hajj Ministry suspends Umrah firm, overseas agent over contract violations

Updated 29 December 2025
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Saudi Hajj Ministry suspends Umrah firm, overseas agent over contract violations

  • Company failed to provide accommodation for a number of Umrah pilgrims, despite these services being documented in the contractual programs, ministry says

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Sunday announced the suspension of an Umrah company and its overseas agent for failing to provide accommodation services for pilgrims in line with approved contractual programs.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said the company’s failure constitutes a clear violation of regulations governing services for Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques.

It noted that a number of pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom without secured accommodation, despite these services being documented in the contractual programs.

This prompted immediate regulatory action against the company and its overseas agent under the established legal frameworks, the ministry said. 

Pilgrims circumambulate the Holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah in this photo taken earlier this month. (SPA)

"The measures are intended to safeguard the rights of affected pilgrims, prevent a recurrence of such violations, and ensure the continued enhancement of service quality," it added.

Last June, the ministry suspended seven Umrah companies due to deficiencies in providing transport services to pilgrims.

In an earlier report quoting the Hajj Ministry and the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, SPA said more than 1.7 million Muslims from all over the world arrived in the Kingdom to perform Umrah during Jumada Al Akhira alone.

Also referred to as Jumada Al Thani, Jumada Al Akhira is the sixth month of the Islamic calendar. For Hijri year 1447, this sixth month ended on December 20, 2025 in the Gregorian calendar.