Lebanon tightens rules for overland Umrah trips: full insurance cover for pilgrims and drivers

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued Decision No. 147/2026 on 15 September 2026, regulating overland Umrah trips and setting strict conditions for travel companies and the coaches used to carry pilgrims.

The explanatory note attached to the decision says it follows a rise in accidents on overland Umrah journeys, which caused deaths and injuries in previous periods.

The decision requires comprehensive insurance cover for pilgrims and drivers throughout the journey across neighbouring countries, alongside standards for coach condition, maintenance and driving.

Under Article 1, only travel companies licensed by the Ministry of Tourism may organise overland Umrah trips. Article 2 sets a maximum coach age of seven years and requires full air conditioning, seats suitable for long journeys, a toilet and a refrigerator.

Article 3 requires a full official mechanical and technical inspection carried out no more than six months earlier, while Article 4 obliges the organiser to assign two registered drivers to each coach.

Article 5 bans continuous driving for more than three hours, after which the coach must stop for a break of at least 20 minutes. Article 6 makes an electronic tracking and speed monitoring system mandatory, connected to a joint operations room.

Passengers may not exceed the number of seats, luggage may not be carried on the roof, and no commercial goods may be transported apart from the belongings of pilgrims and crew.