New Rules for Housing Pilgrims in Saudi Holy Cities
In a joint effort to enhance the experience of millions of pilgrims visiting Islam’s holiest sites, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced a new licensing system for seasonal accommodations in Makkah and Madinah.
The initiative, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, aims to centralize and regulate pilgrim housing before the busy pilgrimage seasons.
Moreover, it reflects the Kingdom’s broader efforts to improve hospitality services and ensure a safer, more organized environment for all visitors.
Under the new framework, all landlords and accommodation providers are now required to register through the official Nusuk Masar platform.
This step not only integrates temporary hostels into Saudi Arabia’s central digital booking system but also creates a more transparent and reliable process for pilgrims seeking accommodation.
As a result, booking and managing housing during the pilgrimage will become faster, easier, and more efficient for both providers and guests.
A Push for Efficiency and Safety
The temporary hostel licensing service is designed to achieve several objectives. By bringing seasonal housing under a formal umbrella, authorities hope to expand available capacity during high-demand periods while simultaneously elevating the quality and safety standards of pilgrim accommodations. The licensing mechanism also ensures all registered properties are linked to the Nusuk platform, creating a more coordinated and transparent booking ecosystem.
The deadline for obtaining a license through the Ministry of Tourism’s electronic system is set for the 13th of Sha’ban in the Islamic calendar. Hotels that already hold year-round operating licenses from the Ministry of Tourism are exempt from this new seasonal requirement.
This move to streamline housing coincides with new data showing increased efficiency in managing pilgrim movements. Recent reports indicate the average time to complete the Umrah pilgrimage has been reduced to just under two hours, a sign of the kingdom’s ongoing investments in infrastructure and crowd management at the Grand Mosque.
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