السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته أحسن الله إليكم، Ustadh, is there disagreement among the scholars as to whether Umrah is obligatory or recommended.

Yes, the scholars differ. Some hold Umrah is obligatory once in a lifetime and others hold it is a confirmed sunnah, and the view of Imam Ibn Baz is that it is obligatory (wajib) once in a lifetime upon the one who is able.