Saudi Arabia Introduces Mandatory Meal Voucher for Umrah Pilgrims
Saudi Arabia has announced a new policy that will include a mandatory daily meal voucher as part of the Umrah visa fee for pilgrims from selected countries. The change is expected to simplify the visa process while standardizing meal arrangements during the pilgrimage.
Daily Meal Charge Included in Visa Fee
Under the new system, Umrah pilgrims will pay approximately 20 Saudi Riyals per day for a Nusuk meal voucher. Instead of being charged separately, the amount will be included directly in the Umrah visa fee.
The new arrangement follows a model similar to the mandatory transportation services already integrated into the Nusuk platform.
According to the announced schedule, the policy will take effect from 1st Rabi al-Awwal.
How the New System Works
To support the initiative, more than 10,000 restaurants are being connected to the Nusuk platform.
Each pilgrim will receive a unique BRN meal code linked to their visa before it is issued. The code can be used to redeem meals during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
The total meal voucher value will be calculated according to the pilgrim’s planned duration of stay and verified before the visa is approved.
Countries Included in the First Phase
The first phase of the program will apply to pilgrims from:
- Pakistan
- India
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
Saudi authorities are expected to expand the system to additional countries in future phases.
Impact on Umrah Travel Agencies
Travel agencies serving the participating countries will need to update their Umrah package pricing to reflect the new mandatory catering cost.
Agencies will also be required to work with Nusuk-registered catering providers, as meal verification will become part of the visa processing system. Officials say incomplete or outdated information may delay visa applications.
The new policy is intended to streamline Umrah services by integrating catering, visa processing, and package management through a single digital platform.
