The Nusuk app, the mandatory gateway for booking Umrah and Rawdah permits, has gained a new offline capability that lets pilgrims use essential services without consuming mobile data or relying on a Wi-Fi connection. The feature arrives as Saudi Arabia opens the 1448 AH Umrah season and continues its push to digitise the pilgrim experience.
According to reports on the updated platform, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced a zero-data access feature that keeps core functions working even when a pilgrim's roaming or mobile data runs out. The change is designed to address one of the most common frustrations pilgrims face: losing access to permits and maps in crowded areas with weak signal.
What the Offline Feature Covers
The zero-data access allows pilgrims to reach key services such as permits, maps, and emergency contacts without an active internet connection. This is particularly valuable inside and around the Grand Mosque, where heavy network congestion during peak prayer times can make data-dependent apps unreliable.
Because Nusuk is the only official channel for obtaining Umrah and Rawdah permits, ensuring those permits remain accessible offline reduces the risk of pilgrims being turned away at entry points. Security personnel at the Two Holy Mosques accept the app's electronic entry codes, and offline availability means a pilgrim can present a valid permit even if connectivity fails at the gate.
Multilingual Support and Safety Tools
Beyond offline access, the platform continues to expand its language support. The app offers service in around ten languages, including Arabic, English, Urdu, Turkish, Malay, Indonesian, French, and Hausa, covering a large share of the global pilgrim population. The Saudi authorities have separately issued the season's safety regulations in 16 international languages.
The app also issues time-based alerts and displays peak-hour notifications, helping pilgrims plan their visits to avoid the busiest periods. An electronic entry code is generated after a permit is booked, and the system provides reminders ahead of scheduled appointment times. For the Rawdah Al-Sharifah in the Prophet's Mosque, appointments must be reserved through the app, with one permit generally allowed per pilgrim within a set period.
These digital tools form part of a broader operational plan to manage crowds and improve emergency preparedness. Digital boards at the entrances to the Grand Mosque display prayer-area capacity, showing green when space is available and red when an area is full, complementing the information pilgrims receive through Nusuk.
How Pilgrims Can Make the Most of It
To benefit from the offline capability, pilgrims should download the Nusuk app and complete their permit bookings before travelling, then open the relevant permits while still connected so the data is stored on the device. Keeping the app updated to its latest version helps ensure the newest offline functions are available.
As an added safeguard, pilgrims are encouraged to take a high-brightness screenshot of any permit QR code. Security guards accept a scannable screenshot, which provides a reliable backup if the app itself encounters a problem in a low-signal environment.
Pilgrims should also set their preferred language within the app before departure and review the peak-time alerts when planning daily visits. Combining the offline access with these features can make movement around the Two Holy Mosques smoother, particularly for first-time visitors and elderly pilgrims who may find busy periods challenging.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has urged Umrah service providers and overseas agents to follow the approved schedule and official instructions closely, emphasising that compliance is essential to deliver high-quality services throughout the season. For individual pilgrims, the offline upgrade is a practical reassurance that the documents they need will be at hand when it matters most.