Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – June 15, 2025 — In a significant move aimed at enhancing the pilgrimage experience, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has officially mandated that all international Umrah pilgrims must secure approved accommodation through the digital platform Nusuk Masar before an Umrah visa can be granted. This new regulation took effect on June 10, 2025 (14 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH).
The requirement marks a decisive shift in the Kingdom’s efforts to regulate, professionalize, and digitally streamlinereligious tourism operations. Under the new rule, Umrah service providers—whether companies, licensed establishments, or foreign travel agents—are required to electronically document hotel bookings via the Nusuk Masar platform. These accommodations must be listed and licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, ensuring that all pilgrims stay only in vetted, regulated establishments.
Enhancing Umrah Pilgrim Safety and Service Standards
The new directive is a direct response to growing concerns about the quality and safety of accommodations provided to pilgrims in past seasons. By making official hotel bookings a precondition for visa issuance, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah aims to eliminate fraudulent practices, reduce instances of overbooking, and protect the rights of visiting pilgrims.
In its official statement, the Ministry emphasized that this initiative is designed to “enhance the professionalism of service delivery, improve the experience for both visitors and Umrah performers, and guarantee that pilgrims stay in licensed, compliant facilities.”
Officials further stated that non-compliance could result in serious consequences, including visa rejections and potential regulatory action against service providers who fail to document contracts through the Nusuk Masar portal.
A Key Milestone in Vision 2030’s Religious Tourism Strategy
The decision aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s long-term national transformation agenda, which includes ambitious targets for modernizing and expanding its religious hospitality and tourism infrastructure. Through inter-ministerial cooperation, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Ministry of Tourism are working together to create a more secure, efficient, and transparent pilgrimage process.
Central to this modernization effort is the Nusuk Masar platform, a comprehensive digital ecosystem that integrates booking, permit management, and educational content for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. The platform provides access in multiple languages and aims to become a one-stop solution for planning and managing the entire pilgrimage journey.
Benefits of the New Umrah Visa Policy
By mandating hotel bookings through the Nusuk Masar system, the Kingdom ensures:
- Licensed accommodations only: Pilgrims will stay exclusively in hotels that meet the Ministry of Tourism’s quality and safety criteria.
- Digital transparency: All contracts are traceable and verifiable by government authorities, minimizing fraud.
- Improved coordination: Facilitates better crowd control, transportation planning, and on-ground logistics by linking accommodation data with overall pilgrimage operations.
- Pilgrim protection: Reduces chances of exploitation by unlicensed agents or unreliable housing providers.
- Data integration: Links visa applications to accommodation records, enabling real-time updates and government monitoring.
Responsibilities for Service Providers and Travel Agents for Umrah Pilgrims
All Umrah service providers are now under legal obligation to:
- Register accommodations in advance via Nusuk Masar.
- Ensure that hotels are Ministry-approved and listed in the official tourism database.
- Complete all documentation electronically before submitting a visa application.
Failure to comply with these requirements will lead to delays in visa processing, or in more serious cases, the suspension of agency licenses.
The Ministry has already begun holding training workshops and issuing operational guidelines to international partners and agents to ensure full compliance with the new procedures.
Global Outreach and Umrah Pilgrim Awareness
To help pilgrims and service providers adapt, the Saudi government is also launching a global awareness campaign in collaboration with foreign embassies and Islamic organizations. The campaign will focus on:
- Educating travelers about the new visa requirements.
- Providing multilingual support on how to use the Nusuk Masar platform.
- Advising travelers to avoid unauthorized booking agents who do not comply with the new digital protocol.
For pilgrims booking their journey independently, the platform also allows direct hotel selection and payment, offering greater autonomy and transparency in managing their religious trip.
Strengthening the Umrah Economy and Infrastructure
The decision is also expected to bring positive economic benefits to Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector. With all pilgrims now required to stay in registered hotels, the policy boosts demand for regulated properties and ensures greater revenue capture within the formal tourism economy.
According to government estimates, over 10 million pilgrims are expected to perform Umrah in the next 12 months. Ensuring that all of them use official booking channels supports sustainable tourism growth, better infrastructure usage, and improved oversight of one of the world’s most significant religious movements.
Conclusion
As Saudi Arabia continues its digital and regulatory transformation in line with Vision 2030, the Nusuk Masar hotel booking mandate for Umrah visas marks a pivotal reform in the nation’s religious tourism framework. Not only does it bolster safety and service quality, but it also represents a forward-thinking use of technology to ensure the rights, comfort, and protection of millions of international pilgrims.
With this change now in effect, prospective Umrah travelers are advised to use only authorized agents and approved platforms to ensure a smooth and compliant visa process, and a spiritually enriching pilgrimage experience.
