Saudi Arabia has strengthened the Nusuk app at the centre of its pilgrimage system, adding a zero-data access feature that keeps essential services working without mobile data or Wi-Fi, and making the Nusuk Card a mandatory smart identity document for registered pilgrims. The updates reflect the Kingdom's continued push to run Hajj and Umrah through a single digital platform.
Nusuk, operated under the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, has become the official gateway for visas, permits, hotel bookings and movement between the holy sites. The latest version of the app was updated in early June 2026, ahead of the new Umrah season for 1448 AH.
Zero-Data Access for Critical Services
The headline addition is a zero-data access feature that lets pilgrims use the Nusuk app without consuming mobile data or needing a Wi-Fi connection. Essential services, including permits, maps and emergency contacts, continue to work even if a pilgrim's roaming or data runs out.
The feature addresses a real problem for visitors from abroad, many of whom struggle with connectivity, roaming costs or exhausted data plans during their stay. By keeping core functions available offline, the Kingdom aims to ensure that a pilgrim can still display a valid permit, find their way between sites and reach emergency services at moments when a network connection may be unavailable or unreliable.
The Nusuk Card as a Smart ID
Alongside the app, the Nusuk Card has become a mandatory smart identification document for every registered pilgrim. The card combines personal, medical and accommodation details into a single credential and is available either as a physical card or digitally through the app.
For pilgrims, the card functions as a unified proof of identity and registration that staff can check across the holy sites. Consolidating medical and accommodation data into one document is intended to speed up assistance, particularly for elderly pilgrims or those with health conditions who may need rapid help away from their group.
A Platform That Keeps Expanding
The new features sit within a wider digital transformation. Nusuk integrates interactive maps and real-time information about routes, nearby services and movement schedules between the holy sites, drawing on the same systems that help authorities manage crowds. In recent seasons the platform has also added health-monitoring functions, including integration with wearable devices for pilgrims with medical conditions.
On the access side, Nusuk now issues Umrah eVisas to citizens of a large and growing list of countries and lets users book vetted Makkah and Madinah hotels directly. For the 2026 season, Umrah visas are not issued unless both a hotel booking reference and a transport booking reference are attached to the application, and pilgrims must enter Saudi Arabia within 30 days of the visa being issued.
What Pilgrims Should Do
Practical tips: Download the Nusuk app and create your account well before travelling, and update it to the latest version so the zero-data feature and current permit tools are available. Complete your hotel and transport bookings inside the app before applying for a visa, since both references are now required. Keep your Nusuk Card with you, whether physical or digital, and confirm that your medical and accommodation details on it are accurate. Finally, do not rely solely on a network connection at the holy sites; familiarise yourself with the offline maps and emergency contacts in advance so you can find them quickly if needed.