A guide to Nusuk Umrah: All about Saudi Arabia’s one-stop digital service for Hajj pilgrims

Muslims visit the Grand Mosque in the Saudi holy city of Mecca on June 8, 2025, at the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (Photo by AFP)

Umrah has long carried deep spiritual meaning for Muslims worldwide, but organizing the journey has often been complicated. To ease the process, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched a new service called Nusuk Umrah, a digital platform that brings all pilgrimage arrangements under one system.

According to the ministry, “Nusuk Umrah is designed to make the pilgrimage journey easier and more accessible for Muslims around the world.” The platform allows pilgrims outside the Kingdom to directly apply for Umrah visas, book accommodation, transportation, cultural tours, and support services online without needing middlemen.

One-stop digital service

As reported by the Saudi Press Agency, pilgrims can choose ready-made integrated packages or customise their own by selecting individual services. Nusuk Umrah can be accessed through its official website (umrah.nusuk.sa) or mobile apps available on iOS, Android, and Huawei. The interface is modern, multilingual, and integrated with government systems to ensure a smooth process from visa application to approval.

The service also offers multiple payment options for convenience. While it introduces a new digital channel, officials say it is not intended to replace accredited agents but to give pilgrims more flexibility and choice.

Part of 'Vision 2030'

The launch of Nusuk Umrah is tied to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to make religious travel more efficient while strengthening the country’s role as a global religious and cultural hub. As the Saudi Press Agency noted, the shift toward digital services is also aimed at diversifying the economy beyond oil and creating a sustainable future.

Earlier this year, the Kingdom also announced that Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) citizens and residents could perform Umrah all year round, provided they applied through the official Nusuk app.

Millions of visitors every year

Saudi Arabia, home to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, welcomes millions of Muslims annually for pilgrimage. While Hajj takes place only during specific dates in the Islamic calendar, Umrah can be performed at any time of year and remains a deeply meaningful act of worship.

According to the General Authority for Statistics, more than 15 million pilgrims performed Umrah in the first quarter of 2025 alone. Of these, 6.5 million arrived from abroad, while 8.7 million were domestic pilgrims. That same year, the Kingdom hosted over 1.6 million people from 180 countries for the annual Hajj.