•Pilgrims
In 2025, Saudi Arabia introduced a new requirement for Umrah pilgrims, mandating verified hotel and transport bookings before visa approval.
This change is aimed at improving the organisation and safety of pilgrim movements while reducing the risks of fraud and overcrowding, particularly during peak periods, reports Daily Independent.
By ensuring all accommodation and transport arrangements are verified through official platforms, Saudi authorities aim to streamline the visa process, enhance the pilgrim experience, and align with broader goals of Vision 2030, which seeks to professionalise religious tourism and ensure a safer, more organised journey for all pilgrims.
In a significant policy change, Saudi authorities now mandate that all Umrah pilgrims provide verified hotel bookings and transport arrangements when applying for their visas.
This new regulation aims to enhance the management of pilgrim movements and reduce the risks of fraudulent accommodation offers.
Pilgrims are encouraged to complete their bookings, preferably via the official Nusuk platform or through licensed agents, before submitting their visa applications.
The 2025 Saudi Umrah visa rules introduce tighter controls on the visa approval process.
Applicants must now submit proof of pre-arranged accommodation and transport, with these reservations needing to be verified through the Nusuk Masar/ Nusuk Umrah platform.
This move is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to digitize and streamline Umrah services. Pilgrims are required to upload or link their approved bookings to the platform before a visa can be issued.
Saudi authorities assert that this system will protect pilgrims from scams and improve the management of both crowd movement and accommodation availability, especially during peak periods.
