Saudi Arabia has made the Nusuk smart card mandatory for every registered pilgrim performing Hajj in 2026. The card, issued by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, must be carried from the moment of arrival in the Kingdom until departure, serving as both a physical and digital pass to the holy sites.
What the Nusuk Card Contains
The card combines personal identification, medical records, and accommodation data into a single smart document. It stores the pilgrim's assigned service provider, hotel addresses in Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites, and is used to verify legal registration at every checkpoint.
Authorities can use the card's data to reunite lost pilgrims with their groups - a critical feature given the scale of crowds during the Hajj rites. If lost, pilgrims can request re-issuance through their service provider, use the digital version on the Nusuk app, visit a Nusuk Care Centre, or call the Unified Call Centre at 1966.
The Nusuk App: 51 Million Users and Counting
The Nusuk app, the official digital platform for Hajj and Umrah, has surpassed 51 million users globally. According to Arab News, the app now consolidates more than 130 digital services into a single platform, including Umrah permit issuance, Rawdah visit bookings in Madinah, hotel reservations, Haramain train tickets, flight arrangements, and real-time crowd density monitoring.
A built-in AI assistant answers pilgrim questions via voice and text in multiple languages. The app also features an offline mode, allowing it to function without consuming mobile data - particularly useful in the crowded holy sites where network connectivity can be unreliable.
What Pilgrims Need to Do
All pilgrims should ensure they have downloaded the Nusuk app (available on both Apple and Google Play stores) and registered their details. The digital version of the Nusuk card is accessible through the app for international pilgrims, and through the Tawakkalna app for domestic pilgrims within Saudi Arabia. Without the card, pilgrims will not be able to enter the holy sites, board group transport, or access welfare services during the Hajj season.