Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 13 Jun 2026, 12:11 PM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia's Nusuk app now offers a zero-data access feature that keeps core services working without mobile data or Wi-Fi, while the Nusuk Card has become a mandatory smart ID for registered pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia has reopened Umrah for the 1448 AH season after Hajj 2026, with Nusuk permits resuming on June 10 and a new rule cutting visa entry validity to 30 days.
Pilgrims from around 66 eligible countries can apply directly for an Umrah visa through Nusuk, while travellers elsewhere must use a licensed agent, with hotel booking now required before applying.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah launched the Masar Nusuk digital service to automate Umrah contracting for the 1448 AH season, using unified electronic contracts with QR-code verification.
Saudi Arabia's 1448 AH Umrah season runs from mid-2026 through April 2027, with visa issuance ending March 9, entry until March 23 and a final departure deadline of April 7, 2027.
Umrah is set to resume on June 11, 2026 after the post-Hajj maintenance window, with visa applications reopening around June 10 and the 1448 AH season running through early April 2027.
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