The Nusuk platform, the official gateway for booking and managing Umrah journeys, has taken on a broader role for the 2026 Umrah season with a set of features designed to ease crowding and keep pilgrims connected even without a data connection. According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and reports on the current season, the app now uses artificial intelligence to track how busy the Grand Mosque and the Rawdah are in real time, and it lets pilgrims access core functions without spending mobile data.
The updates reflect a wider push to move the pilgrimage experience onto a single digital system. A confirmed Nusuk booking is now central to the visa process, and the app has become the tool pilgrims use to secure permits, plan their movements and check conditions at the holy sites before they set out.
Managing crowds with real-time data
One of the most significant additions is AI-driven crowd management. The platform analyses real-time occupancy at the Grand Mosque and at the Rawdah in the Prophet's Mosque, then automatically sends eligibility alerts to a pilgrim's phone when density is low. The aim is to spread arrivals more evenly across the day and reduce the bottlenecks that build up at peak times.
Supporting this is a live colour-coded system for the holy sites. Digital boards and app notifications use green, orange and red indicators to signal real-time capacity at different gates of the Grand Mosque. A pilgrim can check the app before leaving their hotel and choose a gate and a time when the crowd is lighter, rather than arriving blind at the busiest entrance.
Staying connected without data
Recognising that many pilgrims arrive without a local SIM card or reliable Wi-Fi, Saudi Arabia has introduced a zero-data access feature that lets pilgrims use the Nusuk app without consuming mobile data. This means essential functions, such as viewing permits and guidance, remain available even when a pilgrim has no active data plan.
The app also allows repeat visits to the Rawdah through an Instant Track feature, making it easier for those who wish to pray there more than once during their stay. For Hajj pilgrims, the linked Nusuk Card serves as a smart identification document that combines personal, medical and accommodation details in one place.
Digital tools tied to the visa
The digital shift is not optional. Under the rules for the current season, an Umrah visa cannot be issued until a pilgrim has confirmed hotel and transport bookings logged in Nusuk. Accommodation must include a confirmed stay in a Nusuk-approved hotel in Makkah, Madinah or both, along with pre-booked ground transport including airport transfers and inter-city travel.
Alongside these controls, the Ministry has developed the Nusuk Wallet, described as the first international digital wallet of its kind built specifically for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Launched in cooperation with the Saudi National Bank and approved by the Saudi Central Bank, it lets pilgrims store and manage funds securely within the app, using encryption and biometric verification.
Practical advice for pilgrims
Pilgrims should download the Nusuk app well before travelling and complete their registration, hotel and transport bookings early, since the visa depends on them. It is worth enabling notifications so that crowd and eligibility alerts arrive in good time.
Before heading to the Grand Mosque or the Rawdah, pilgrims should open the app to check the colour-coded capacity indicators and pick a quieter gate or slot where possible. Those without a local data plan should familiarise themselves with the zero-data features so they can still reach their permits on arrival. Keeping the app updated to the latest version will ensure access to the newest tools throughout the journey.