RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has announced a new Umrah policy that will be implemented in phases beginning on 1 Rabi’ al-Awwal, introducing additional requirements for Umrah visa applicants.
Under the new regulations, pilgrims applying for an Umrah visa must now provide a hotel reservation, transportation voucher, and a mandatory food voucher worth 20 Saudi riyals per night. The new system will be managed through the Nusuk platform.
The policy will initially apply to Umrah pilgrims from Pakistan, India, Egypt, and Bangladesh.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said nearly 10,000 restaurants in Makkah and Madinah have been integrated into the Nusuk platform to ensure pilgrims receive organized and quality meal services throughout their stay.
The ministry added that Umrah companies, hotels, transport operators, and catering providers will all be responsible for ensuring seamless and transparent services from the pilgrims’ arrival until their departure.
Officials also said that several companies were blacklisted and fined last year for violating Umrah regulations. Newly approved Umrah operators have now been integrated into the Nusuk system to provide all services through a unified digital platform.
