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Saudi Arabia fixes February 8 deadline for Hajj data submission, grouping
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March 20 remains final date for Hajj visa processing, Saudi authorities say
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Pilgrims risk missing Hajj 2026 if requirements are not met
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has reaffirmed February 8, 2026, as the final deadline for the submission of pilgrims’ data and group formation on the Nusuk Masar registration platform ahead of Hajj 2026.
The ministry also confirmed that March 20, 2026, remains the closing date for the processing of Hajj visas.
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The clarification was made during a virtual meeting held on February 4, 2026, between the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and representatives of all Hajj-participating countries.
According to the ministry, compliance with the registration requirements on the Nusuk Masar platform is mandatory for visa issuance.
The meeting, titled Official Schedule of Operations, was anchored by the Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Abdallah Awad Alshehri, who stressed that pilgrims’ grouping would not be considered valid unless all registration conditions were fully met.
Alshehri said the completion of data capture on Nusuk Masar was a prerequisite for timely visa processing.
He explained that key requirements include the payment of consolidated guarantees for all pilgrims, identification and payment of Hadaya contracts for pilgrims performing Hajj under the Tumattu’I and Qiran rites, as well as proper categorisation of pilgrims according to their chosen rites.
According to him, pilgrims performing Hajj under Tumattu’I and Qiran must pay for sacrificial animals through the Nusuk Masar platform, except those who choose the option of fasting instead of sacrifice.
He added that pilgrims under the Ifrad, Tumattu’I, and Qiran categories must be clearly identified on the platform.
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Another requirement, he said, is the execution of a medical service contract with an accredited healthcare provider based in Saudi Arabia.
Alshehri also disclosed that countries are now required to book backup accommodation in Makkah for one per cent of their total pilgrims’ quota as a contingency measure.
He explained that a country allocated 40,000 pilgrims, for instance, must secure additional accommodation for about 400 pilgrims.
The ministry warned that all pilgrims and officials whose passports are not captured on the platform before the February 8 deadline risk being excluded from Hajj 2026.
In a related development, the Saudi delegation confirmed that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement governing passenger-sharing arrangements will be fully enforced at a 50/50 ratio from 2027.
For Hajj 2026, the existing 40/60 sharing formula will remain in effect.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Fatima Sanda Usara, said tour operators had been advised to ensure pilgrims travel and return within the validity of their visas to avoid violations.
