Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has said there are no new requirements for pilgrims performing Umrah this season, even as it widens the range of digital services on offer and tightens oversight of the companies that serve worshippers. The remarks came from Abdulmohsen Al Salem, the ministry's Undersecretary for Umrah and Visit Affairs, in an interview published on September 16, 2026.
According to Al Salem, the ministry is focused on making the Umrah journey easier and more flexible rather than adding conditions for arrivals. He said the approach coincides with early preparations for peak periods and efforts to raise the sector's readiness for the growth in pilgrim numbers expected in the years ahead.
Expanded options, no new conditions
Al Salem confirmed that pilgrims arriving from more than 170 countries face no new requirements to perform Umrah. Instead, the ministry has introduced measures designed to give travellers greater choice. Chief among them is the recently launched multiple-entry Umrah visa, which the undersecretary described as a model for developing arrival procedures and giving pilgrims more flexibility in planning their journeys.
The ministry is also expanding direct access to Umrah services through approved global and local online travel platforms. According to Al Salem, this allows pilgrims to plan trips, browse services and complete bookings with greater ease. He framed these steps as part of a broader effort to raise competitiveness in the Umrah sector while supporting the gradual, sustainable growth targeted under Saudi Vision 2030 and its Pilgrim Experience Programme.
Al Salem said peak periods are shaped by demand across the season, and that the ministry coordinates with other authorities and service providers to prepare for them in advance so the sector can absorb rising numbers without a drop in service quality.
Digital services and artificial intelligence
The Umrah journey has reached what Al Salem called an advanced level of digital integration. He said the Nusuk application and platform now provide more than 150 digital services to over 51 million users from more than 170 countries, allowing many procedures to be completed electronically before a pilgrim even arrives.
Artificial intelligence features prominently in the ministry's plans. Al Salem pointed to "Nusuk AI," an intelligent assistant inside the Nusuk app that answers pilgrims' questions through text and voice interaction. A separate tool, the Digital Mutawwif, helps worshippers count the circuits of Tawaf and Sa'i, steers them toward less crowded areas and guides them with recommended supplications and remembrances. A central Monitoring and Control Center integrates live data into indicators and dashboards that support faster decisions during busy periods.
Al Salem said the next phase would move beyond simply digitising procedures toward using data and advanced analytics to offer more proactive and personalised services based on pilgrims' needs.
Oversight and company suspensions
The ministry is pairing convenience with enforcement. Al Salem said 346 licensed Umrah companies are currently authorised to provide services, reflecting a widening service-provider base and growing private-sector participation. To hold them to standard, regulatory and field teams conduct daily inspection tours, and the number of such tours has exceeded 32,000 since the start of the 1448 AH Umrah season.
Where inspectors find shortcomings, Al Salem said the issues are addressed immediately and can include suspension. In June, the ministry suspended 21 Umrah companies following performance assessments from the previous season. Fifteen were suspended for low performance ratings, while six were penalised for breaching regulations and instructions. He said the quality of a pilgrim's experience, not merely regulatory compliance, is now a core factor in how companies are classified.
What it means for pilgrims
For those planning Umrah, the practical takeaways are clear. Pilgrims should book only through licensed providers and the official Nusuk platform, where company classifications and approved packages are listed. Completing paperwork, permits and payments digitally before travel can reduce delays on arrival. Those uncertain about procedures can use the in-app Nusuk AI assistant for guidance, and should try to plan trips outside the busiest periods where possible to ease crowding. Above all, the ministry's message is that the core entry rules remain unchanged, so travellers from all eligible countries can proceed with confidence.