Manama: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues its pioneering efforts to develop the Hajj and Umrah services ecosystem through innovative initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and provide pilgrims with a seamless and integrated experience.
According to Bahrain News Agency, central to these efforts are the Nusuk platform, overseen by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and the Makkah Route initiative, implemented by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with several government agencies. Both initiatives exemplify the integration of technology and operational organisation in serving pilgrims and visitors.
Over the past year, Nusuk has witnessed remarkable growth, with the number of users rising from 12 million to more than 40 million across 190 countries, with over 90% of users from outside the Kingdom. The app has been downloaded more than 26 million times, issuing over 17 million Umrah permits and 13 million permits for visiting Al Rawdah Al Sharifah. Nusuk now offers more than 130 digital services, allowing users to book Umrah trips, Al Rawdah Al Sharifah visits, Haramain train tickets, flights, and hotels, while also providing tools for prayer times, Qur’an access, athkar, and Qibla direction enabling pilgrims to maintain their spiritual routines whether in the Kingdom or abroad.
The platform’s rapid growth reflects the collaborative efforts of Elm Company, the technical team behind Nusuk, and the government agencies working together to realise the vision. A new version of the platform is currently under development, designed to be more intuitive, faster, and easier to use.
On the operational side, the Makkah Route initiative served 314,337 pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj season through 899 flights landing at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, with dedicated terminals established at selected international airports.
The initiative facilitates pilgrims’ arrival from their home countries with organisational efficiency, beginning with the electronic issuance of visas, collection of vital health data, and completion of regulatory procedures at departure airports. It also includes luggage coding and sorting according to transport and accommodation arrangements within the Kingdom. Upon arrival, pilgrims are transported via dedicated buses to their accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, while relevant authorities ensure delivery of their luggage to their respective residences.
Together, Nusuk and the Makkah Route initiative reflect the Kingdom’s commitment to integrating digital solutions with on-the-ground operations to provide a seamless and enriched pilgrimage experience.
Amid this momentum, Saudi Arabia continues to consolidate its position as a global reference in crowd management and service for the Two Holy Mosques’ visitors, inspired by Vision 2030, which has made serving pilgrims a national honour and responsibility while advancing the Kingdom toward the future.