New Rules for Housing Pilgrims in Saudi Holy Cities
In a coordinated effort to improve the experience for the millions of pilgrims visiting Islam’s holiest sites, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched a new licensing system for seasonal accommodations in Makkah and Madinah. The initiative, developed with the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, aims to centralize and regulate housing ahead of the peak pilgrimage seasons.
The new framework requires all prospective landlords and accommodation providers to register through the official Nusuk Masar platform. A key goal is to integrate these temporary hostels into the kingdom’s centralized digital booking system, ensuring a more organized and reliable process for pilgrims securing lodging.
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.
