Askoi group has umrah license suspended, faces another fine

Islamic Ministry announced on Thursday that it decided to suspend the umrah license issued to Askoi Travel Services and impose a fine, in response to fresh allegations of fraud against the tour group.

It marks at least the third time for Askoi to be hit with allegations of defrauding pilgrims.

The latest allegations emerged in July, with Askoi accused of defrauding multiple pilgrims who paid for umrah, but weren’t taken on the pilgrimage claiming it wasn’t safe to travel to the Gulf.

The group took their passport and other important documents and told them to get ready to fly to Saudi Arabia on July 24, but later notified them that the pilgrimage had been postponed until such time as it was safe to travel to the region.

The pilgrims raised the issue with the Islamic Ministry, complaining that they had not received a refund nor have had their passports and other documents returned to them.

In the statement on Thursday, the Islamic Ministry said that neither Askoi nor its owner has responded to queries from the ministry.

The ministry said it has therefore decided to take action against the group, including by:

• Suspending the umrah license issued to the group
• Imposing a fine
• Banning Askoi Travel Services and any other company with one of its shareholders from obtaining an umrah license
• Ordering a refund for pilgrims who paid to perform umrah in July 2025
• Asking the police for a criminal investigation into the case

The latest incident comes after Askoi was fined MVR 130,000 for defrauding pilgrims back in May.