Mawasim is the Hajj and Umrah division of Seera Group, the region's largest tech-led travel and tourism company

• Seera Group is one of the first travel companies to offer Maqam integration globally

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; October 11, 2021: Seera Group has further strengthened its religious travel services by integrating Mawasim, its Hajj and Umrah division, with Maqam, the official global distribution system platform of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj & Umrah.

Maqam is designed to provide a simplified and unified portal for all details regarding booking the pilgrimage from anywhere in the world. Mawasim and Maqam, (the only Saudi – authorised portal), come together to redefine the future of travel for global pilgrims to the Kingdom. One of the few first partners to offer services globally, the full integration highlights Seera’s commitment to supporting the Kingdom to realise the visitation goals it has set for Hajj and Umrah.

Under the agreement, travel agents can visit the Mawasim portal to book hotels and transportation to generate a booking reference number which they can use to process Umrah visa applications via authorised portals for their customers. In the primary phase, Mawasim is integrated as an Online Travel Agency (OTA), giving travel agents access to an extensive network of diverse and tailored packages targeting various types of pilgrim travellers based on data driven insights.

Mawasim has grown to become a trusted B2B travel services provider offering pilgrims a simplified booking experience. Offering end-to-end services from one centralised source, the goal is to simplify the booking process for travel agents working with Mawasim globally.

The innovative service will further contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to welcome 30 million pilgrims by 2030. The restructuring of the visa system for travellers in 2019, enabling visitors from 49 countries to secure e-visas has already simplified the Umrah visitation process for many, and Mawasim’s integration with Maqam will now make it easier for nationalities who still require Umrah visas.

With the integration, over 450 travel agents partnering with Mawasim across 27 markets worldwide such as Egypt, Kuwait, South Africa, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Turkey, among others, can conveniently secure Umrah bookings and pass the benefits of Mawasim’s packages to pilgrims once the full integration is completed.

The new integration is expected to have a positive long-term influence on the growth of inbound arrivals to the Kingdom from the country’s top source markets like Indonesia, Pakistan and Egypt.

More relaxed access to tourists’ visas and the growth of the Umrah plus market – combining religious and leisure travel – are expected to be key drivers in the growth of international tourism in the Kingdom. Corresponding with the latest industry developments, Seera Group’s first-of-its-kind integrated DMC in Saudi Arabia, Discover Saudi is part of the SAR 1 billion investment in driving tourism development in the Kingdom with a distinctive value proposition. Discover Saudi will have a multiplier effect on the economy to create a robust infrastructure to support destination tourism services.

Significantly boosting the fast-growing pilgrimage sector, Mawasim also provides worldwide solutions to travel agencies with a state-of-the-art B2B portal. Eligible for nationalities who get tourist visas or visas on arrival, the B2B portal allows for hotel bookings and transportation across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the possibility of add-ons offline.

With its expert local knowledge, user-friendly technology, and commitment to customer satisfaction, Seera Group is uniquely positioned to serve all religious bookings – those who need Umrah visas through the Maqam portal and those with approved tourist visas through the B2B portal.

Majed Alnefaie, CEO of Seera Group, said: “The integration of Mawasim’s services with Maqam highlights our commitment to supporting the Kingdom to realise the visitation goals set for Hajj and Umrah. Working with our agents in international source markets, the newly launched service will ensure the highest standards of customer service and ease of booking, particularly to meet the demand from Umrah groups. Mawasim brings the knowledge of Hajj & Umrah pilgrimage and is committed to offering pilgrims the best possible experience.”

Global travel agencies working with Mawasim now have access to an end-to-end tour operator. The travel packages offered cover hotel booking, visa processing, VVIP, and tailor-made packages as well as additional services such as comfortable road transportation, airport meet and greet and, on the ground, support provided by knowledgeable local colleagues. Seera Group’s partner hotels are strategically located within walking distance of the Ka'bah and the Haram – further boosting the accommodation offering for both domestic and international visitors alike.

With its strong roots in Makkah and Madinah and an outstanding team with expertise in religious tourism, Mawasim will continue to offer B2B travel services and bundled packages for travel agents. As a customer-oriented provider of local services for Hajj and Umrah inside Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world, Mawasim aims to be the number one wholesale tour operator for Hajj & Umrah travel in the Kingdom.

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About Seera Group:

Seera is the leading provider of diverse travel services in the Middle East and North Africa region. With its balanced portfolio of brands across several verticals, Seera is regarded as the most knowledgeable and accomplished travel service provider. The Group is a significant contributor to the growth of the domestic, inbound, and outbound tourism economies of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a best-in-class business partner in unlocking the opportunities in the region. Providing technology-powered travel services for consumers, businesses, government partners and pilgrims, Seera offers the opportunity to travel in the Kingdom, across the region, and beyond, like never before. Seera’s strategic business units as below:

• Almosafer, the flagship brand of Seera’s consumer travel business unit
• Lumi, Seera‘s car rental and leasing brand
• Discover Saudi, Seera’s integrated destination management company
• Mawasim, Seera’s wholesale tour operator for Hajj & Umrah
• tajawal, a leading online travel agency in the UAE
• Elaa, Seera’s travel management company, leading in the Corporate and Government sector in KSA

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For more information:

Nivine William | Iman Ahmed

ASDA’A BCW | +9714 4507600

nivine.william@bcw-global.com | iman.ahmed@bcw-global.com

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