No Umrah visa without hotel booking: Saudi Arabia
Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah has said the foreign pilgrims planning Umrah visit to Makkah will not be issued visa unless they submit the proof of hotel reservation in advance
Makkah: Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah has said the foreign pilgrims planning Umrah visit to Makkah will not be issued visa unless they submit the proof of hotel reservation in advance.
Saudi Arabia started issuing visas for the post Hajj 2025 Umrah season from June 10, 2025.
The Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah asked the aspiring pilgrims to obtain Umrah visa through Nusuk Masar, popularly known as Nusuk app.
In the latest announcement regarding Umrah visa, the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah said pilgrims will be required to submit proof of accommodation while applying for the Saudi visa.
Which Hotels?
Not only this, the accommodation booking must be done in hotels approved by Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom.
“To improve service standards and enrich the pilgrim experience, housing documentation through Nusuk Masar is now required for all 1447H Umrah visa issuances”, the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah said in a social media post on X.
In the same post, the Ministry asked the companies and Umrah Tour Operators to “limit accommodations to hotels licensed and approved by the Ministry of Tourism.”
The ministry further asked the Umrah companies to “document all contracts through the Nusuk Masar platform”.
The ministry said, “The regulation has been effective since the beginning of the Umrah season on Dhul Hijjah 14, 1446 AH.”
Nusuk App
The Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah had earlier specifically said that the Umrah permits for the foreign pilgrims will be issued through the "Nusuk" app.
The app is the unified digital platform for providing government services. It enables users to book and obtain permits easily, in addition to offering a range of digital services that enhance the experience of Umrah pilgrims.
The Ministry further said that the arrival of Umrah pilgrims has started from June 11, 2025.
The official account of the Emirate of Makkah Al-Mukarramah had earlier foxed the deadline for Umrah companies and foreign agents as May 27, 2025.
Umrah 1447 AH Schedule
- Deadline to finalise contracts between Umrah companies and foreign agents: May 27, 2025 (29 Dhul Qadah 1446 AH)
- Issuance of Umrah visa startd: June 10, 2025 (14 Dhul Hijjah 1446 AH)
- Pilgrims start arriving in Saudi Arabia: June 11, 2025 (15 Dhul Hijjah 1446 AH)
- Final date to accept applications from qualifying international agents and approve contracts with Umrah companies: January 20, 2026 (1 Sha’ban 1447 AH)
- Last date to issue Umrah visas: March 20, 2026 (1 Shawwal 1447 AH)
- Last date for pilgrims to enter the Kingdom before Hajj 2026: April 3, 2026 (15 Shawwal 1447 AH)
- Final date for pilgrims to depart Saudi Arabia: April 18, 2026 (1 Dhul Qadah 1447 AH)
While announcing the Umrah season calendar for the year 1447 AH, the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah said the announcement is a part of its preparations to serve pilgrims and visitors to the Prophet's Mosque coming from outside the Kingdom with Umrah visas.
During the Second Umrah and Ziyarah Forum (UZF 2025) held in Madinah in April, Minister of Haj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah revealed that over 6.5 million international pilgrims performed Umrah in the first quarter of 2025 marking an 11% year-on-year increase.
Umrah is a voluntary pilgrimage to Makkah which can be performed any time of the year. This is unlike Hajj which is performed once in a year and during the month of Dhul Hujjah.
Also, Hajj – one of the five pillars of Islam, is mandatory and compulsory for Muslims, men and women both, who can afford travel cost.
The Hajj rituals this year started on June 04, 2025 with standing on Mount Arafat on June 05, 2025. The Hajj officially ended on June 09, 2025.
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