For travel professionals handling Umrah bookings, understanding Saudi Arabia’s latest regulatory updates is essential. Recently, the Kingdom announced that all visa holders can perform Umrah, and simultaneously introduced mandatory hotel and transport booking rules. These changes aim to create a more organised, seamless pilgrimage experience. Knowing how these rules work, how to guide your clients, and what steps to follow helps travel agents deliver smooth, compliant, and stress-free Umrah journeys.
What Are the New Umrah Visa Rules?
Saudi Arabia’s new Umrah regulations streamline the pilgrimage process by expanding eligibility and tightening booking requirements. Travellers holding tourist visas, e-visas, family visit visas, and other valid entry visas can now perform Umrah without needing a specific Umrah visa.
The government has also made it compulsory for all Umrah travellers, regardless of visa type, to pre-book their hotel accommodation and transport services through authorised platforms such as the Nusuk portal. These updates support crowd management, improve the pilgrim experience, and ensure that all visitors have confirmed arrangements before arriving in the holy cities.
Why Are These New Umrah Visa Rules Important?
Understanding these updated rules helps travel professionals offer accurate guidance, prevent client issues, and maintain compliance with Saudi regulations.
1. Easier Access for More Travellers
Allowing all visa holders to perform Umrah widens your potential customer base. Tourists, business travellers, and visiting families can easily include Umrah during their trips—leading to more package opportunities.
2. Mandatory Compliance With Hotel & Transport Bookings
Saudi Arabia now requires pre-booked accommodation and approved transport before issuing the Umrah permit. Missing bookings can lead to permit rejection or delays, making travel agent assistance crucial.
3. Smooth Permit Issuance Through Nusuk
Once hotel and transport bookings are completed, travellers must secure their Umrah permit via the Nusuk app. A correct, complete booking process helps travellers avoid last-minute complications at the holy sites.
4. Better Pilgrim Experience
With structured bookings and regulated movement, travellers enjoy smoother logistics, reduced congestion, and more organised access to Makkah and Madinah, reflecting positively on the agent’s service quality.
How to Follow the New Umrah Rules for Your Clients
Helping clients navigate these steps ensures a compliant, stress-free pilgrimage.
Step 1: Check Visa Eligibility
Confirm whether the traveller holds a valid tourist visa, e-visa, family visit visa, or other entry permit. All these visa types now allow Umrah performance.
Step 2: Collect Traveller Details
Gather full passport details, travel dates, contact numbers, and any family/group information. Accuracy is essential for booking and permit issuance.
Step 3: Pre-book Hotel Accommodation
Book hotels in Makkah or Madinah through authorised or certified portals. Accommodation details are mandatory for generating the Umrah permit.
Step 4: Pre-book Transport Services
Arrange official transport options such as airport transfers, intercity travel, or approved buses. These bookings must be linked with the traveller’s Umrah itinerary.
Step 5: Apply for the Umrah Permit on Nusuk
Assist clients in securing their permit on the Nusuk app after hotel and transport bookings are confirmed. Each traveller requires their own digital permit.
Step 6: Share Final Confirmations
Provide travellers with booking confirmations, Nusuk permit details, and emergency contacts. Encourage them to keep digital copies of everything.
Step 7: Review Information Before Travel
Double-check that names, passport numbers, travel dates, and booking details match perfectly. Even small errors can cause approval delays or permit issues.
Tips for Travel Agents
Inform Travellers Early
Explain the new Umrah requirements, including mandatory hotel and transport bookings at the initial enquiry stage.
Stay Updated
Saudi regulations frequently evolve. Always verify the latest rules via the Ministry of Hajj & Umrah or the Nusuk platform.
Coordinate Group Bookings
For group Umrah packages, track each traveller’s booking and permit status to avoid last-minute problems.
Promote Tourist Visa Umrah
Highlight to clients that they can now perform Umrah on tourist visas, as it’s great for short trips and combined itineraries.
Prepare Women & Family Travellers
Women can travel without a Mahram (depending on visa type), and children above 5 can enter the holy sites with permits, making family packages more attractive.
Conclusion
Saudi Arabia’s new Umrah visa rules, aimed at allowing all visa holders to perform Umrah and making hotel and transport bookings mandatory, mark a major shift in the pilgrimage process. For travel professionals, understanding these updates is key to ensuring compliance and providing clients with smooth, well-organised journeys.
By integrating these requirements into your booking workflow and staying updated with official announcements, you can help every traveller enjoy a seamless Umrah experience while also expanding opportunities for your B2B travel business.
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