Police have forwarded a case against Mash'ar Tours, a group offering Umrah packages who left pilgrims stranded in Mecca last Ramadan, to the Prosecutor General's Office for pressing charges.
Police have forwarded a case against Mash'ar Tours, a group offering Umrah packages who left pilgrims stranded in Mecca last Ramadan, to the Prosecutor General's Office for pressing charges.
A Police official told Mihaaru News today that three cases of fraud and deception are being investigated against the tour company. One of these cases has been forwarded to the PG Office.
The official said that discussions are being held with the Prosecutor General before the remaining two cases are forwarded to his office.
Mash'ar Tours is a travel agency formed by Al Mash'ar Private, which previously ran the Al Mash'ar Hajj and Umrah, which had its license revoked under similar circumstances. The Director's Board of the company has Ali Farish and Moosa Yameen on it.
The case against Mash'ar Tours was submitted to Police by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs last April.
Last year, 50 pilgrims who went on Umrah through Mash'ar Tours were left stranded with no arrangements for return.
Ali Farish, the agency's owner, previously facilitated Umrah trips under the name Al Mash'ar Hajj and Umrah Group in 2023. However, 138 individuals who traveled during Ramadan then were left in limbo as their ticket dues went unpaid, due to bounced cheques which led to the subsequent revocation of the group's permission by the ministry.
In 2024, Ali Farish then formed a different company, Mash'ar Tours to organize Umrah trips. However, it later came to light that the agency was not registered with the Tourism Ministry as a legitimate travel entity.
Meanwhile, another similar case has come to light just yesterday, with a group of pilgrims who went on Umrah under Al Hijra Travel and Tours currently being stranded in Saudi Arabia as the company failed to arrange return travel for them. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has since announced that they will be brought back on government expense, and action will be taken against the company responsible.
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