The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has activated a feature that lets pilgrims use the official Nusuk app without consuming mobile data or connecting to Wi-Fi. The move is aimed at keeping essential services running for the Guests of Allah even in the crowded areas around the two holy mosques, where networks are often overloaded.

According to the Saudi Press Agency and Arab News, the ministry rolled out the zero-data access in cooperation with the Kingdom's main telecom operators, stc, Mobily, and Zain. Any pilgrim, resident, or visitor holding a local Saudi SIM card can now open Nusuk and reach its core services without an active data plan.

Why this matters for pilgrims

Nusuk has become the central digital gateway for Hajj and Umrah. Pilgrims use it to manage visas, book Umrah permits, reserve Haramain High-Speed Railway tickets, secure Rawdah time slots, and arrange transport and accommodation. When a pilgrim's data runs out or a network buckles under the weight of millions of users, losing access to these tools can mean a missed permit or a wrong turn in an unfamiliar city.

By removing the data requirement, the ministry addresses one of the most common practical problems pilgrims face. International visitors often arrive without a local data plan, or exhaust prepaid bundles quickly. The feature ensures that vital functions remain available regardless of a pilgrim's connectivity or balance.

Which services work offline

The ministry confirmed that the following core services are available without data usage for eligible SIM card holders:

  • Permits for Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah, the sacred area inside the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, which requires a pre-booked digital permit with no exceptions.
  • Haramain High-Speed Railway ticket booking, connecting Makkah and Madinah.
  • Nusuk Maps, for navigating the holy sites and reducing the risk of pilgrims getting lost.
  • Nusuk AI, the app's artificial-intelligence assistant that answers pilgrim questions.
  • Inquiries and reports, allowing pilgrims to submit requests or flag problems.

The ministry says the initiative supports smoother journeys, improves crowd management, offers instant access to vital information, and accelerates permit verification at entry points. Faster verification at checkpoints helps ease congestion during peak movement between rituals.

A fast-growing platform

The offline feature arrives as Nusuk continues rapid growth. The platform surpassed 51 million users globally as of April 2026, up from 30 million the previous September, with users drawn from more than 190 countries. That scale makes reliable access under heavy load a genuine operational challenge, and the zero-data feature is part of the ministry's answer.

The initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and its Pilgrim Experience Program, both of which prioritise easing arrival, enriching the spiritual journey, and improving service efficiency for those performing Hajj and Umrah.

Practical tips

  • Get a local SIM on arrival. The zero-data feature works for holders of Saudi SIM cards from stc, Mobily, or Zain. Purchasing a local SIM at the airport unlocks offline Nusuk access.
  • Download and log in early. Install Nusuk and sign in with your passport and visa details before you reach the crowded areas, so your account is ready when networks are strained.
  • Book your Rawdah permit in advance. Slots open on Friday afternoons Saudi time and fill within seconds. Offline access helps, but early booking is still essential.
  • Keep permits ready for scanning. Offline verification speeds up entry, so have your Nusuk permit screen accessible at checkpoints.
  • Do not rely solely on data roaming. International roaming can be costly and patchy near the mosques. A local SIM plus offline Nusuk is the more reliable combination.

For pilgrims, the change is a quiet but meaningful improvement. It means the app they depend on for permits, tickets, and navigation will keep working when they need it most, in the busiest moments of their journey.