Saudi Arabia's Nusuk platform has surpassed 51 million users worldwide, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced, underlining how quickly the digital system has become central to organising Hajj and Umrah. Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah confirmed the milestone, which spans users in more than 190 countries.
The figure represents a sharp climb from the 30 million users recorded in September 2025, reflecting the platform's growing role for pilgrims planning visits during the current 1448 Umrah season. Nusuk now functions as the main gateway for permits, bookings and identification across the two holy cities.
More than 130 digital services
According to the ministry, the Nusuk app offers over 130 digital services designed to guide a pilgrim from planning through to departure. These include issuing Umrah permits, booking visits to the Rawdah in the Prophet's Mosque, reserving hotels and flights, and arranging transport within the holy sites.
The app also provides interactive maps, crowd-density indicators, guidance services, sacrificial offering arrangements and golf-cart bookings for those who need mobility support. Pilgrims can submit complaints and access support directly through the platform, consolidating services that once required multiple offices and intermediaries.
For pilgrims booking through the Direct Hajj Program, the platform has introduced a package-preference phase that allows applicants to select up to five preferred options, compare packages, and view indicators showing how popular each option is. Each authorised service provider now has a fixed number of visas tied to its packages, so a visible package corresponds to an available visa.
The Nusuk card as mandatory smart ID
Central to the system is the Nusuk card, the official smart identification document issued by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. It is the mandatory identifier every registered pilgrim must carry, and it remains valid for the full duration of the journey, from arrival in the Kingdom until departure.
The card combines personal, medical and accommodation data into a single credential. It grants access to the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, organises group bus transfers, and links each pilgrim to their assigned service company. If a pilgrim becomes separated from their group, authorities can scan the card to identify their accommodation and gathering point.
A digital version of the card is available through the Nusuk app for all pilgrims, and through the Tawakkalna app for those based inside Saudi Arabia. Pilgrims who lose a physical card can request re-issuance through their group leader, use the digital version, visit a Nusuk Care Center, or call the unified support line.
The card and the wider platform also serve a regulatory purpose. By tying every pilgrim to an accredited service provider and a verified permit, the system helps authorities identify and remove unauthorised operators. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly warned against performing Hajj or Umrah without the correct permit, and the digital record makes enforcement far easier than in the era of paper documentation.
A rapidly scaling digital backbone
The jump from 30 million users in September 2025 to more than 51 million by early 2026 illustrates how central the platform has become to the pilgrimage economy. Nusuk now spans booking, payment, identification, navigation and support in a single ecosystem, and the ministry has continued to add features aimed at reducing friction for first-time pilgrims unfamiliar with the Kingdom.
For international pilgrims, the platform has also become the main route to a legitimate visa. Several visa categories, including the newly introduced multiple-entry Umrah visa, require the purchase of a service package from a provider accredited on Nusuk. That requirement channels bookings through vetted operators and gives the ministry a clearer view of pilgrim numbers across the season.
Practical tips for using Nusuk
Pilgrims are strongly advised to download the Nusuk app and create an account well before travelling, as permits for Umrah and Rawdah visits are issued through the platform and popular time slots fill quickly. Booking a service package from an accredited provider listed on Nusuk is now a requirement for several visa categories.
Once in the Kingdom, pilgrims should keep the Nusuk card on their person at all times and present it when entering the holy sites or boarding group transport. It should be treated as an active tool rather than stored away.
Travellers should also familiarise themselves with the digital card in advance, verify that their medical and accommodation details are correct, and save the unified support number in case of loss. Relying on official channels, rather than unofficial agents, remains the safest way to secure permits and avoid fraud.