Saudi Arabia’s New Licensing System Set to Boost Tourism During Umrah Pilgrimage

Published on October 17, 2025

Saudi Arabia has come up with new initiative which helps in alleviating the convenience for visitors making the pilgrimage of Umrah. After the kingdom’s “historical decision” which granted free access for Umrah without restrictions of the visa type, the Kingdom has created a new system of licenses to solve the problem of accommodation shortages during the peak season of pilgrimage. This system will allow local real estate owners to obtain peak season licenses to house a higher number of visitors, alleviating the accommodation bottleneck, and welcoming additional travelers to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Part of the initiative is the continued investment by Saudi Arabia in improving the quality of the pilgrimage and as well as the country’s tourism. In addition to the new licensing which will allow a more streamlined approach to accommodation, the Nusuk platform which has already served as a central system to planning of the Umrah will continue to lead the process. The platform will continue to provide the pilgrims assistance in obtaining the required documentation with travel, making accommodation and transport reservations, and other details essential for seamless travel.

New Licensing System to Increase Accommodation Capacity

The new seasonal licensing system is a major step in accommodating the growing number of pilgrims visiting the country during the umrah season. It aims to ease the burden associated with the limited number of accommodation by enabling local property owners to apply for lease licenses during the peak season. It is predicted that this will improve the housing situation for pilgrims which in turn indicates that the Kingdom will be able to sustain a larger number of travelers with the same standard of hospitality and care.

In relation to pilgrims, apart from the ease of traveling, there will be greater access to housing during peak seasons of Umrah, which generally is the time that there is greater demand for accommodation, especially during the holy months. In relation to Umrah, pilgrims being granted access to lease license will enable the Kingdom to have better control in relation to high demand periods associated with travelers coming to the country and the growing issues of overcrowding, as well as the deficit in accommodation supply.

The Nusuk Platform: A One-Stop Hub for Umrah Planning

For the purpose of further enhancing the umrah experience, the Nusuk platform is the major resource for travelers to organize their pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The platform is a complete service provider to the users which includes the filing of umrah applications, booking of transportation, and accommodation.

Accessible via Nusuk, pilgrims will still be able to access a multitude of services, including hotel and shuttle booking tailored to their needs. Saudi Arabia has provided pilgrims, both first-timers and returnees, unparalleled convenience in Umrah trip planning by eliminating the need to use multiple platforms.

The platform further aids the country in its commitment to improve the digital traveler experience. Through Nusuk, pilgrims receive real-time service updates, easy booking and payment systems, and real-time tracking of their travel. This digital approach transforms the otherwise traditional pilgrimage into a modern, efficient, and globally accessible experience.

Integrating the Saudi Nusuk Platform into Global Travel Systems

These, and other recently adopted policies, are part of the Saudi Arabia plan to increase the tourism industry as part of Vision 2030. This Strategy aims to position the Kingdom as a premier travel destination, focusing on religious tourism, a sector that has been the backbone of the country’s tourism. The renewed focus on the Uhrah, including the newly introduced licensing system and the Nusuk platform will improve traveler mobility and host capacity, meeting the long-held goals.

These actions align with the recent shift in policy, which permits holders of all visa types to perform Umrah. This is a significant change in the way Saudi Arabia has historically dealt with international visitors. By relaxing some of the restrictions on the Umrah pilgrimage, increasing the flow of other types of visitors, Saudi Arabia predicted an upsurge in tourism.

Unchanged Year-Round Licensing

It must be mentioned that the hotels and properties which have been awarded year round licenses for tourism activities will not be impacted by the new regime of seasonal licensing. These properties will operate as per the routine, servicing the visitors for the entire year. The newly initiated system seeks to enhance the existing infrastructure and will sufficiently supply accommodation for the Umrah season, which is currently the most sought-after availability.

This differentiation is placed to allow the addition of new housing to meet the supervising need for servicing tourists while not impacting the existing housing which services the normal tourism demand. This acts as a compromise regarding the servicing of regular tourists and the tourists attending for Umrah. This also attests to the fact that the Kingdom is still focused on maintaining outstanding service to all the trekkers.

Polishing the Process for a Faster and Easier Umrah

The seamless integration of the new seasonal permitting system and the continual refining of the Nusuk platform is a strong additions to the strides the Kingdom has been making in modernizing its tourism and religious travel system. The country is making advances to improve the Umrah journey and meeting the increasing demand for religious travel in the years to come.

These projects are in keeping with the Kingdom’s goal outlined in Vision 2030 which aims to improve the economy by placing the Kingdom as a pole in the global tourism market. With more international tourists emerging to the country, the changes made in the Umrah services is aimed to support this goal and better cultural relations of Saudi Arabia with the world.