Hajj From East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia, and What Travel Agencies Can Sell

Short answer: In East Africa, Hajj is organised through a recognised national body that works with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. In Kenya this is the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), in Tanzania BAKWATA, in Uganda the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), in Ethiopia the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, and in Somalia the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. Only agencies or companies approved inside that framework can sell Hajj. Other agencies can still serve pilgrims with Umrah, family travel and flights around the season.

This guide is for travel agencies and licensed Hajj and Umrah companies in these five countries. It uses only what official government or national-body websites say. It is not legal or religious advice: the rules are set each season by your national body and by Saudi Arabia.

Key takeaways

• Each country has a recognised national body for Hajj. Hajj places, permits and Hajj visas come only through that body and the official Saudi system.
• None of the official sites we checked had published a full Hajj 2027 (1448 AH) process for these five countries by 5 November 2026. The latest official details are from the 2026 season or earlier.
• Somalia's ministry published the most detail for 2026: a quota of 11,500 pilgrims and a list of 71 licensed companies on its official platform.
• Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has opened licensing for companies that serve foreign pilgrims for the 1448 AH season.
• QuickOTA accepts group requests, including Hajj and Umrah groups. It does not sell Hajj packages, quotas, permits or Hajj visas.

Who organises Hajj in East Africa?

In each of the five countries, a recognised Muslim council or a government ministry organises Hajj and deals with the Saudi authorities. In general, that body coordinates the season and the agencies that may take Hajj pilgrims. An agency that wants to sell Hajj must first be approved within that framework.

What do the official sites say for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda?

Kenya's foreign ministry says SUPKEM officials and the Jeddah consulate received Kenyan pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj. Tanzania's government names BAKWATA as the coordinator and asks it to oversee other Hajj organisers. Uganda's UMSC says it is taking over the management of Hajj affairs and will keep working with licensed Hajj companies.

Kenya. Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported in May 2025 that the first group of 500 Kenyan pilgrims arrived in Jeddah for Hajj 2025, out of 4,500 Kenyans expected. Officials from the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims met them with the Consul General. We could not open SUPKEM's own website, so agencies in Kenya should check its list of accredited Hajj agents and its 2027 registration steps directly with SUPKEM.

Tanzania. In June 2024, the Prime Minister's Office praised BAKWATA for its planning and coordination of Hajj, and asked it to oversee the professionalism of all organisations that send Muslims on Hajj. In April 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs reported 4,029 pilgrims from Tanzania for the 2026 Hajj, and said Zanzibar's Second Vice President had asked the coordinating organisations to build a database of accurate pilgrim information. BAKWATA's website links to a separate Hajj and Umrah site, which we could not open, so check registration details with BAKWATA directly.

Uganda. A UMSC article from January 2026 says that, under Saudi protocol, Hajj affairs should be managed by officially recognised Muslim bodies, and that UMSC is taking over the management of Hajj affairs. Under the earlier process, licensed Hajj companies sent their pilgrim lists to UMSC. The Mufti told licensed Hajj and Umrah companies that UMSC does not plan to stop them offering Hajj services, and asked them to work closely with the Council. Ugandan agencies should follow UMSC's current announcements for the 2027 season.

What do the official sites say for Ethiopia and Somalia?

For Ethiopia, the latest official item we found is from 2020. For Somalia, the government news agency reported the 2026 season in detail: the ministry licensed 71 companies, signed a quota of 11,500 pilgrims with Saudi Arabia, and required companies to sign an agreement with each pilgrim and upload pilgrim data.

Ethiopia. The Ethiopian News Agency reported in January 2020 that the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the 1441 AH season. The agreement covers the arrival of pilgrims from Ethiopia and the services they receive through service agencies in the pilgrim services system. We could not find a newer official page on registration or agencies. Ethiopian agencies should check the current process with the Council.

Somalia. For the 1447 AH / 2026 season, SONNA reported the following announcements from the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs:

These are 2026 rules. For 2027, follow the ministry's new announcements, which may be different.

What does Saudi Arabia say about Hajj companies and Nusuk?

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah oversees Hajj and Umrah. For the 1448 AH season, its official site says it has opened licensing applications for companies that serve pilgrims from abroad. Its Nusuk Hajj platform offers Hajj packages to pilgrims from a list of serviced countries.

Two points matter for East African agencies:

• Licensing for foreign-pilgrim service companies. The ministry's site says applications are open for the 1448 AH season, with a published list of requirements. A Saudi licence does not replace approval from your own national body.
• Nusuk Hajj. The ministry describes Nusuk Hajj as a one-stop platform for pilgrims from "serviced countries", mainly countries with Muslim minorities that do not have official missions to manage pilgrims' affairs. When we checked, the page still showed the 1447 AH (2026) season.

The official sites we checked do not name Hajj airlines or a 2027 flight programme for these five countries. Do not promise a customer an airline, a departure date or a seat.

What can an East African agency sell around Hajj?

An agency that is not approved by its national body cannot sell Hajj places, permits or Hajj visas. But the season brings real demand: Umrah before and after it, families who travel to see pilgrims off or welcome them, Eid al-Adha visits, and diaspora travel between East Africa, the Gulf and Europe. These are ordinary trips that agencies sell all year, within their own country's rules for selling travel.

Business you can build around the season:

1. Umrah all year, with peaks in Ramadan. See our guides to selling Umrah flights as a small agency and Ramadan Umrah planning.
2. Working with an approved Hajj company. A smaller agency can refer Hajj customers to an approved company and keep serving those customers with Umrah and other travel.
3. Family and diaspora travel. Families living in the Gulf, Europe and elsewhere often travel home around Eid.
4. Visas for other trips. Approved agencies can order Saudi Arabia visas and Kenya visas (eTA) in the QuickOTA B2B Panel at B2B rates. These are not Hajj visas. To order visas, send a partnership request with Visa ticked.

Quote clearly, with the baggage and fare rules in plain words. Our guide to quoting flights on WhatsApp has a template you can copy.

How should agencies talk to customers about Hajj?

Talk about Hajj with care and respect, and send customers to the official channels for registration, quotas, costs and flights. The national body announces the cost and the rules each season, not the agency. If you are not approved, say so clearly and explain what you can do instead.

• Name the official body for the customer's country, and tell them to check its list of approved agencies or companies.
• Never take money for a Hajj place you do not hold. Somalia's ministry, for example, forbade payment collection by unauthorised companies for 2026.
• Keep Hajj and Umrah separate in your quotes, contracts and receipts.

How to work with Hajj and Umrah groups on QuickOTA

QuickOTA is a B2B travel platform that accepts group requests, including for Hajj and Umrah groups. An approved Hajj company, or any agency organising an Umrah group, sends a group request to the QuickOTA team with the dates, route and number of passengers. The team sends a quote, the agency pays in instalments from its prepaid wallet, and it manages the passenger list in the panel.

QuickOTA does not sell Hajj packages, quotas, permits or Hajj visas, and it does not replace your national body. Hajj quotas, permits and Hajj visas come only from your national Hajj authority and the official Saudi system. A group request for Hajj is for agencies that are allowed to organise Hajj, within the rules that framework sets. See group requests for how it works.

For individual travellers, you search, hold and ticket flights in the QuickOTA B2B Panel and see the fare rules before you book. QuickOTA does not require IATA accreditation: QuickOTA issues the ticket for your booking. To open an agency account you need a registered company or a valid travel agency (tourism) licence from your country. B2B Panel access is free, with no setup fee and no minimum deposit. You are responsible for meeting your own country's rules for selling travel.

Send a group request →

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Common mistakes agencies make around Hajj

• Selling Hajj without approval from the national body.
• Promising a place, permit, visa, cost or flight before the official process confirms it.
• Using last year's rules. Each season has new announcements; Somalia's 2026 rules may not be its 2027 rules.
• Mixing up visas. Hajj travel goes only through the official Hajj system; do not sell any other visa as a Hajj visa.
• Forgetting the rest of the year. Umrah, family travel and group flights keep a pilgrim agency busy outside Hajj.

FAQs

Who organises Hajj in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda?

In Kenya, the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM); in Tanzania, BAKWATA; in Uganda, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC). Check each body's own announcements for its approved agents and the 2027 process.

How many licensed Hajj companies does Somalia have?

For the 1447 AH / 2026 season, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs told pilgrims to use only the 71 licensed companies on its official platform. The list for 2027 may be different, so check the ministry's current list.

Has Hajj 2027 registration opened in East Africa?

We found no official Hajj 2027 (1448 AH) registration notice for these five countries on official sites by 5 November 2026. Follow your national body's announcements.

Can my agency use Nusuk Hajj for customers from East Africa?

Nusuk Hajj serves pilgrims from a list of serviced countries, mainly countries without an official Hajj mission. If your country has a national Hajj body, check with it and the Nusuk list first.

Does QuickOTA sell Hajj packages or Hajj visas?

No. QuickOTA accepts group requests from agencies, including approved Hajj companies, and lets agencies book flights in the panel. Hajj quotas, permits and Hajj visas come only from the national body and the official Saudi system.

Related reading

• Hajj Flights for Travel Agencies in Africa
• Hajj From Nigeria and West Africa: A Guide for Travel Agencies
• Hajj 2027 From Algeria: What Travel Agencies Need to Know
• Group Requests for Travel Agencies
• Selling Umrah Flights as a Small Travel Agency
• Ramadan Umrah Flights: How Agencies Plan Seats, Holds and Ticketing
• Saudi Arabia Visa for Travel Agencies
• Starting a Flight Ticket Business in Africa: A Guide for Non-IATA Agencies