DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced a new accommodation policy for Hajj 2026. Under the updated rules, pilgrim housing licences in Mecca and Medina will be issued through a temporary hostel licensing service, linked to the Nusuk Masar platform.
The system, developed in collaboration with the ministries of Tourism and Municipalities and Housing, aims to streamline bookings and improve service quality for pilgrims, a leading English-language newspaper, Gulf News reported.
Applicants must register through the Nusuk Masar platform to qualify for leasing pilgrim accommodations. Licenses are to be obtained via the Ministry of Tourism’s electronic platform, in line with approved requirements, before the contracting period closes on February 1, 2026. The process does not apply to hotels that already hold year-round licences from the Ministry of Tourism.
The temporary hostel licensing system aims to boost service quality, streamline bookings, and enhance the Hajj experience in the holy sites in Mecca and Medina. The new system is designed to improve service quality by issuing seasonal licences that meet regulatory standards.
It integrates licensed accommodations with the Nusuk platform for coordinated bookings, enhances hospitality capacity during Hajj, and ensures a safe, organised experience for pilgrims through the electronic licensing platform.
Pakistan Express Tribune newspaper reported that for Pakistan, where Hajj is seen as a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual calling, the move is especially significant.
In 2025, about 189,000 Pakistanis were able to perform Hajj, their largest quota yet, split evenly between the government scheme and private operators. But demand continues to grow.
The federal government is now drafting a new Hajj policy that seeks to raise Pakistan’s quota to 255,000 for 2026, the newspaper said.
Officials are also considering reviving Hajj travel by sea and extending Saudi Arabia’s “Road to Makkah” immigration clearance service to more airports in Pakistan. Both steps could cut costs and reduce the strain of long journeys for the elderly and first-time pilgrims.
