Direct Hajj Registration: Listen, The Hajj Operating System is in Transmutation

Direct Hajj Registration: Listen, The Hajj Operating System is in Transmutation

By Ibrahim Muhammad

National Coordinator, 

Independent Hajj Reporters, 

Makkah, Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah last week announced the commencement of self-registration for pilgrims from Muslim-minority countries, a significant shift in Hajj administration that hints at a new global operational framework.

Although the Ministry has not released the full list of affected countries, the guidelines issued point clearly to what the future of Hajj management could look like.

Under the new arrangement, Nusuk Hajj has been designated as the only authorized digital platform for the Direct Hajj Program. Through this portal, eligible Muslims can apply directly for Hajj without intermediaries or external agents.

According to the Ministry, the platform “provides an integrated digital experience covering registration, package selection, and payments,” though for now, the process focuses only on account creation, with package selection and booking to follow.

To register, intending pilgrims must visit (http://hajj.nusuk.sa), select their country of residence, and submit key documents including a passport, personal photo, and proof of residence. The system allows one registered pilgrim to include up to seven dependents under a single account. Those wishing to serve as Hajj guides can also register through the same platform.

This development, though welcomed by many, represents a radical departure from long-standing, state-managed pilgrimage systems. “It is difficult to get over local or long-established models, but the new direct registration shows that Hajj operations are shifting away from government-controlled structures,” I observed while reviewing the platform’s features.

Unsurprisingly, the move has drawn criticism from Hajj operators in South Africa, one of the countries placed under the Muslim Minority category for 2026, who fear the model could sideline private travel agencies. However, this is part of a broader transformation under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to digitize and streamline pilgrimage management globally.

The emerging Business-to-Client (B2C) model will gradually bypass middlemen and allow Saudi-based service providers to deal directly with pilgrims worldwide. Hajj missions and agencies that fail to adapt may find their roles limited to coordination, supervision, and consular support.

More importantly, the annual bickering over who nominates which service provider may soon evaporate within the confines of B2C and direct hajj registration by the time it arrives in Nigeria.

Please, read that again!

The upgraded Nusuk app already integrates nearly every service required for Hajj and Umrah from booking accommodation in Makkah and Madinah to selecting transport, Masha’ir packages, meals, and even paying for sacrificial animals (Hady). Pilgrims can also access multilingual educational materials and track their entire Hajj journey digitally.

Analysts believe these developments are part of a deliberate move to enhance efficiency and transparency. The Ministry has also rolled out the “No Nusuk Permit, No Hajj” campaign to ensure every pilgrim is properly registered and monitored for safety.

To support the transition, Saudi Arabia has trained over 167,000 personnel and deployed them across 25 countries to provide multilingual assistance in 14 languages.

The message is clear: the global Hajj ecosystem is evolving. For traditional Hajj operators and institutions, survival will depend on how quickly they align with this new digital operating system or risk being left behind.