The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched Direct Umrah, a digital service that lets pilgrims inside the Kingdom and those travelling from abroad arrange their Umrah packages online. The service connects worshippers with approved providers through licensed travel platforms, part of a wider push to move the entire pilgrimage journey onto a single digital track.
According to the Ministry, participating platforms include ShareTrip, Wakanow, Bookme, Wego and Almatar. Through these channels, pilgrims can browse Umrah and visit packages, examine the services, prices and conditions of each option, and complete a booking before they travel.
How Direct Umrah works
The service is built around choice and transparency. Pilgrims can compare packages side by side and review exactly what each one includes before paying. The Ministry says two broad categories are available: packages that do not include an Umrah visa, intended for pilgrims who already hold a valid visa or who are inside Saudi Arabia, and comprehensive packages that may cover the visa along with other services.
The initiative grew out of the Direct Umrah Program, which the Ministry outlined during a meeting with Umrah companies and institutions earlier in September. The stated aim is to let licensed companies serve pilgrims directly, at the highest quality standards, without unnecessary intermediaries standing between beneficiaries and service providers. The Ministry has said the model is designed to support and empower service providers by encouraging them to adopt professional destination management and trip organisation.
Among the platforms, Wego has partnered with the Ministry to bring flight bookings, Umrah visa request submissions, verified accommodation and licensed ground services together in one place. According to the company, the goal is to reduce the number of separate steps a pilgrim must take and to give travellers confidence that the providers they book are approved.
Part of a larger digital shift
Direct Umrah sits within a broader digital transformation led by the Ministry. Through the Nusuk Masar platform, the Ministry has linked contracting procedures, operational tasks and visa processing into a single digital infrastructure that prepares a pilgrim's journey from its earliest stages. The Ministry describes a clear digital timeline, moving from service data and electronic wallet transfers through contracting and group formation to the issuance of visas.
The Nusuk application remains the centrepiece of this ecosystem. The Ministry reported that the number of users has passed 51 million worldwide, drawing on more than 100 digital services, with users based outside the Kingdom making up around 60 percent of the total. That reach allows the Ministry to connect with pilgrims well before they arrive and to present services and permits through a unified window.
The move also reflects rules introduced for the current Umrah season. The Ministry has made hotel and transport bookings through Nusuk mandatory and has worked to simplify visa issuance by reducing required documents and speeding approvals through official electronic platforms. Saudi Arabia has also opened Umrah to holders of several visa types, allowing more travellers to perform the pilgrimage without a dedicated Umrah visa.
Practical tips for pilgrims
Pilgrims planning to use Direct Umrah should book only through the official platforms named by the Ministry and avoid unofficial offers circulated on social media, which Saudi and other authorities have repeatedly warned are often fraudulent. Before paying, read each package carefully to confirm whether a visa, accommodation and transport are included, as costs and conditions vary between options.
It is also wise to keep the Nusuk application updated and to complete profile and permit steps early, since Umrah permits for entering the Grand Mosque are issued through the app. Pilgrims should confirm the validity window of any visa before booking, as Umrah entry rules and deadlines are tied to the season calendar. Finally, travellers should keep digital copies of their booking confirmation and any health or vaccination documents required by their home country, and verify these requirements before departure.