Malaysia and Saudi Arabia joint luxury Umrah cruise launch faces delays

Malaysia's IslamiCruise, which was being launched as Asia’s first luxury Umrah cruise programme, in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Aroya Cruises, is facing scheduling problems. The inaugural January–February 2026 voyage has been rescheduled as organisers revise routes and packages.

The 15-day, fully halal-certified cruise was officially introduced as part of Malaysia’s halal tourism push and recognised as a Visit Malaysia 2026 product. Departing from Port Klang, the one-way journey is designed to take pilgrims to Jeddah via Banda Aceh, Oman and the Maldives, before passengers complete their Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

IslamiCruise International announced on November 19, 2025, that sales had been temporarily suspended due to internal assessments indicating a need to better align sailing schedules with market demand and school holiday periods. The company said it remains in discussions with Aroya Cruises’ owners to finalise a revised and commercially viable launch date.

The cruise vessel can accommodate more than 3,500 passengers and offers four accommodation categories, ranging from standard cabins to suites and villas. Onboard facilities include swimming pools, water slides, sports amenities and halal dining, alongside religious programming and lectures led by Malaysian preacher Ustaz Wadi Anuar and Indonesian scholar Ustaz Abdul Somad.

While the programme is designed primarily for Muslim travellers performing Umrah, non-Muslim passengers are also permitted to join the cruise, with tailored packages that exclude pilgrimage activities.

Organisers estimate the initiative could attract between 6,000 and 8,000 visitors annually once fully operational, supporting Malaysia’s broader ambitions to strengthen its position in the global halal and Islamic tourism market.