Dubai Police arrest gang offering fake Umrah, Haj visas on social media
Once payments were made, the scammers would block victims' contact numbers and disappear with the funds.
Authorities have urged the public to obtain pilgrimage visas only through licensed and authorised entities in the UAE.
In 2023, an investigation by Khaleej Times led to the arrest of a Sharjah-based tour operator whose firm was at the centre of a major Haj scam. The owner of Baitul Ateeq travel agency, who had collected nearly Dh3 million from around 150 residents, was taken into custody after dozens of complaints.
Victims say they paid the full amount for the pilgrimage but were left stranded days before departure, with no flights, visas, or refunds. The agency blamed visa delays and claimed refunds would be processed, but many say they never received their money back.
Among those affected was a widow in Sharjah who paid Dh130,000 to travel with her son. 'All I got was 13 per cent of what I paid, after filing a complaint,' she said. Another Dubai resident, Saquib Imam, who paid Dh20,000, says only Dh5,000 has been returned so far.
Several complainants also revealed that this was not the agency's first such incident. As early as 2020, customers reported paying large sums for Haj trips that never materialised. While the Covid-19 pandemic had suspended Haj travel that year, clients who booked through the same agency say they received only false assurances and no refunds.
The agency's owner had claimed he was selling property in India to repay customers and even explored filing a compensation case abroad, but failed to provide any concrete details or timelines.
Meanwhile, other cases continue to surface. Fayaaz Khan, another UAE resident, said he was duped by a company called Dream Travel in 2024. 'I paid Dh1,500 for an Umrah package last year. Now, none of their numbers work,' he said.
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