Core Guidelines about Hajj 2023

 Hajj 2023 |  In Dhul Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar and exactly on June 26, 2023, the annual pilgrimage and one of the five pillars of Islam, is going to take place in Saudi Arabia.

However, the pilgrimage will take place this year without any restrictions that were imposed during the Coronavirus pandemic.

This year, the number of pilgrims is expected to grow to 2 million people from around the world.

Getting Local SIM Card

As soon as you enter KSA airport’s arrival hall, you will see kiosks of mobile service providers like STC, Zain and Mobily.

Local SIM cards are also available in shopping malls, mobile shops and stores of telecom companies. These companies provide special packages for calling minutes and internet data to visitors and tourists.

In order to get a SIM card, you have to provide: passport copy, visa number as well as fingerprints for biometric registration.

If you are a heavy phone user, you may choose roaming services from your current telecommunications service provider.

Nusuk gateway

Through Nusuk gateway (nusuk.sa), which was launched by The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the framework of the Vision 2030 Pilgrim Experience Program, Hajj pilgrims can review and purchase all service packages dedicated to Hajj including: obtaining visa, accommodation, meals, flights, guidance services, and transportation.

The platform is aiming at serving over 30 million people by offering more than 121 diverse services; 75 services for business sector and 45 services for individual one.

Hajj 2023

This Saudi first-ever integrated digital platform is characterized by its easy format; visitors can create their own profiles while entering the requested data. Also, it supports seven different languages to help users from diverse countries to organize their entire visits.

This year, the Nusuk program for Hajj pilgrims was expanded to include more countries around the world.

It is available for use by pilgrims from: the US, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Brazil, Spain, Sweden, Canada, Netherlands, Belgium, , Austria, Australia, Bulgaria, Argentina, Greece, Georgia, Finland, Switzerland, Cyprus, Denmark, Venezuela, Ukraine, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, Croatia, Ireland, Romania, New Zealand, Serbia, Portugal, Poland, Reunion, Hungary, Panama, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Paraguay, Mexico, Chile, Malta, Haiti, Peru, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Guatemala, El Salvador, Uruguay, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Iceland, Ecuador, Bolivia, Greenland and Costa Rica.

2nd Hajj Phase for Citizens, Residents

For Saudi domestic pilgrims who are at least 12 Hijri years old and last performed Hajj five or more years ago, a second hajj application phase is allowed during this year’s season through Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah website or Nusuk platform.

Up to 13 companions can be included in one booking, including female pilgrim mahram (blood relative).

Applicants can choose between four Hajj service packages and should not be suffering from any acute, chronic, or infectious disease. They should also be vaccinated against COVID-19, meningitis, and seasonal influenza 10 days before the Hajj season starts.

Hajj 2023

Moreover, they must have a valid identity card or residence permit that is valid until the end of Dhul-Hijjah month.

The first registration stage was for pilgrims who are performing Hajj rituals for the first time. They have been given this priority since they can apply for Hajj permits until June 25 through the Nusuk application and the official website.

No Mahram Needed for Female Saudi Residents

A new move towards gender equality was taken in KSA. Female Saudi residents are now allowed to apply for Hajj permits independently without the need for a mahram. For foreign citizen, contacting the Passport Department is a must.

This step was taken in alignment with the country’s Vision 2030 to promote social and economic reforms while creating an inclusive society.

In October, Saudi Arabia announced that women over 45 no longer required a male guardian to perform Hajj. More than 4,300 Indian women pilgrims are expected to perform Hajj without a “Mahram” this year.

Hajj smart card

The Nusuk foundation in cooperation with the General Authority of Awqaf launched Hajj smart card system in 2019 to enhance pilgrims’ experiences via electronic solutions.

These cards are free and supposed to contain users’ personal information linked to an electronic application like: residential, health information, mobile phone number and the ID number of their guide.

It allows pilgrims to do contactless transactions and store their money in this e-wallet, which makes all transactions safer and easier in this post-pandemic era.

The Kingdom authorities are still exerting efforts to offer the comprehensive health insurance which has benefited over 1.3 million pilgrims since its implementation. The insurance compensates beneficiaries in cases of accidents, disasters and travel problems.

Each pilgrim will be given a different color. It may be red, green, yellow, or blue based on their stages of Hajj. The colors provide the guidance that they can follow for each stage of Hajj.

Pilgrim Experience Program, Vision 2030

Under the umbrella of Vision 2030, the pilgrim experience program was launched in 2019 to provide the opportunity for the largest possible number of Muslims to perform Hajj and Umrah. The Kingdom is expecting to receive 30 million visitors annually by 2030.

The authorities in the Kingdom are planning to achieve this through enhancing every service provided before, during and after foreigners’ visits, in order to guarantee a spiritual fulfilment and memorable experience for visitors of Saudi Arabia.

Vital Source of Income

The peak season of Hajj 2023 and Umrah open doors to commercial activities especially in Makkah Al-Mukarramah and El Madina El Munawara, offering several job opportunities in sectors such as hotels, restaurants, travel, transportation and aviation.

KSA considers expanding Hajj and Umrah activities as one of the cornerstones to develop the tourism sector and increase number of visitors in view of vision 2030.

Vision 2030 mainly aims at diversifying sources of income other than petroleum under an economic reform program led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to raise number of guests of Allah to 30 million pilgrims annually by 2030.

The Great Mosque 3rd Expansion

The third Saudi expansion of the Grand Mosque including floors, roofs, and yards was completed to accommodate the largest number of pilgrims and visitors.

It’s worth mentioning that in 2019, before the pandemic broke out, about 2.6 million people performed the Hajj.

Saudi authorities allowed only limited numbers from its residents in 2020 and 2021, then it welcomed back one million foreign pilgrims in 2022. Access was restricted to pilgrims aged from 18 to 65 who have been fully vaccinated or immunized against the coronavirus and did not suffer from any chronic diseases.