Saudi Arabia has set out new operational rules for the 2027 Hajj that place medical staffing, digital payments and service providers at the centre of preparations. The timeline, shared with national Hajj authorities, requires countries to supply a defined ratio of doctors and nurses for their pilgrims and to process service contracts through the Nusuk platform.
The requirements were confirmed by Indonesia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, who said his country received the Saudi timeline on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. His comments were reported by the Antara news agency and carried by Hajj Reporters.
Medical staffing ratios
According to the Saudi document described by Minister Yusuf, each country must provide roughly 1.5 doctors and 1.7 nurses for every 1,000 pilgrims. The ratio ties medical provision directly to the size of a nation's Hajj mission.
The scale of the requirement is significant. With Indonesia's quota exceeding 200,000 pilgrims, the ratio translates to around 300 doctors and nearly 400 nurses. Minister Yusuf acknowledged that his country had not yet met the target and would need to work hard to fulfil it by 2027. Other large sending nations face similar challenges in recruiting and deploying qualified medical teams.
The measure reflects lessons from recent seasons, when heat and the physical demands of the pilgrimage placed heavy pressure on medical services. Requiring a fixed density of doctors and nurses is intended to ensure that care is available close to pilgrims across the holy sites, from Mina and Arafah to Muzdalifah.
Payments move to the Nusuk e-wallet
Saudi Arabia has also mandated that Hajj service contracts be processed through the Nusuk platform, with payments made via an e-wallet system. Minister Yusuf said the Saudi government is optimising the e-Nusuk application to streamline services, which he expects will make arrangements easier for pilgrims.
Routing contracts and money through one system gives Saudi authorities a clearer view of bookings, accommodation and transport for the whole season. It also standardises how national missions engage with Saudi service companies, replacing a patchwork of separate arrangements with fixed dates and a single digital channel.
Toward one provider per country
The timeline further addresses the number of service companies, known as syarikah, that a country may use. The rules point toward limiting operations to a single service provider per country, a change that has drawn concern from some large nations.
Minister Yusuf said Indonesia would review the requirement, noting that handling more than 200,000 pilgrims through one provider could be difficult. He indicated that his country would discuss the point further with Saudi authorities while aligning its national preparations with the Saudi schedule and payment deadlines.
The single-provider approach is consistent with Saudi Arabia's broader move to consolidate and standardise Hajj services, which has also seen the Kingdom bundle accommodation, transport and catering into unified packages for the coming seasons.
Practical tips for pilgrims
Pilgrims planning for 2027 should follow announcements from their national Hajj authority closely, since staffing, payment and provider changes will shape package prices and booking timelines. Early registration remains the safest way to secure a place.
Those with medical conditions should expect closer health scrutiny and should complete required checks and vaccinations well ahead of departure. Pilgrims should also ensure their payments run through official national channels connected to Nusuk, and avoid any operator that cannot show accreditation on the platform, to protect against fraud.
Prospective pilgrims are also advised to keep documents such as passports, medical records and vaccination certificates organised and up to date, as tighter operational rules tend to mean stricter document checks. Building in extra time before deadlines gives room to resolve any problems. Those unsure how the new requirements affect their own booking should raise questions with their national mission early rather than close to departure.