Saudi Arabia introduces mandatory Nusuk food voucher for umrah pilgrims

Saudi Arabia introduces new Umrah policy

Saudi authorities have announced that every Pakistani Umrah pilgrims visiting the Kingdom will now receive a compulsory Nusuk food voucher as part of their Umrah visa.

The new rule will also apply to pilgrims from India, Egypt and Bangladesh. Officials said the policy will come into effect from 1 Rabi ul Awwal and aims to improve the overall Saudi Arabia Umrah experience.

What is the Nusuk food voucher?

Under the new policy, each pilgrim will pay approximately 20 Saudi riyals per day for meals.

The Nusuk food voucher cost will automatically be added to the Umrah visa, meaning pilgrims will no longer need to arrange meal vouchers separately.

Saudi officials explained that every voucher will be digitally connected to the Nusuk app, allowing pilgrims to access meals at approved restaurants without additional paperwork.

Nusuk app to manage all services

The government has expanded the Nusuk app into a complete digital platform for Saudi Arabia Umrah services.

Besides the Nusuk food voucher, the platform will manage hotel bookings, transport arrangements, permits and several other services needed during Umrah.

Authorities say nearly 10,000 restaurants in Makkah and Madinah have already joined the system. Each pilgrim will receive a unique digital code through the Nusuk app, which can be used to collect meals from participating restaurants.

Also read: Saudi Arabia launches multiple-entry Umrah visa with new rules

Why has Saudi Arabia introduced this system?

Saudi authorities say the new Nusuk food voucher policy is designed to standardize food services for Pakistani Umrah pilgrims and visitors from other countries.

Officials believe the system will improve food quality, increase transparency and discourage unregistered food providers operating around the holy cities.

The government also wants to make Saudi Arabia Umrah services more organized by bringing everything under one digital platform.

Umrah packages expected to become more expensive

Travel operators believe the new requirement will increase the total cost of Umrah packages.

Since the meal charges will now be included in every Umrah visa, agencies in Pakistan are reviewing package prices before the new policy takes effect.

Travel experts advise Pakistani Umrah pilgrims to confirm updated prices with their travel operators before making bookings.

Also read: Pakistan announces major Umrah policy changes for pilgrims

What pilgrims should know

Anyone planning Saudi Arabia Umrah after the implementation date should expect the additional meal charges to be included automatically in their visa fee.

Pilgrims are also encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Nusuk app, as it will become the main platform for accessing meals and several other Umrah-related services.