Saudi Ministry Honours Wakanow for Excellence in Umrah Travel Services

Nigerian travel company Wakanow has received recognition from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for excellence in the performance of international travel platforms during the first quarter of the 1448 AH season.

The company received the Award for Excellence in Performance of International Travel Platforms, Q1 1448 AH, in recognition of its role within the international travel ecosystem supporting Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque.

Wakanow’s Umrah services include visa assistance, accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, airport transfers and ground transportation for travellers journeying to the Holy Cities.

Commenting on the recognition, Group CEO of Wakanow, Bayo Adedeji, described it as a significant moment for the company.

“We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah,” he said. “For Wakanow, facilitating Umrah travel is about much more than enabling a booking. It is about understanding the responsibility that comes with supporting people on a journey of great personal and spiritual significance”.

Adedeji said the recognition reflects the importance of building travel services around the full customer journey.

“Travel is changing, and customers increasingly expect more than a transaction. They want convenience, clarity and confidence throughout the journey. Our recognition by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is meaningful because it reflects the importance of the work we are doing to build a more coordinated travel experience for our customers”.

He added that as an African travel company, Wakanow was particularly proud to demonstrate that platforms built in Africa could serve travellers moving across international markets while maintaining strong standards of service and delivery.

Adedeji said the company would continue to strengthen its services and partnerships to improve the experience for travellers.

“This recognition reinforces our commitment to maintaining high standards across the entire travel experience, from the point at which a customer begins planning their journey to their arrival in the Holy Cities and their return home,” he added.

The recognition comes as Saudi Arabia continues to develop its digital pilgrimage ecosystem and strengthen the use of technology across the Umrah journey.

The ministry has also been working with international online travel platforms to improve digital integration, booking management and the overall pilgrim experience.

Wakanow said the recognition would further encourage its investment in technology, people and partnerships as it continues to serve travellers from Nigeria and other international markets.