Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is set to activate the second phase of domestic Hajj booking payments on Friday, May 15, as preparations continue for the upcoming pilgrimage season. The new payment phase applies to Saudi citizens and residents who have already completed registration and secured reservations through the Nusuk electronic platform. The ministry said pilgrims will now be given up to 72 hours to settle reservation invoices until Thursday, 27 Dhul Qada, before the payment window is shortened to six hours on Friday, 28 Dhul Qada, in an effort to maximise seat availability and improve allocation efficiency. It added that unpaid reservations will be automatically cancelled once the specified deadline expires, with payments processed through the SADAD system as part of digital procedures designed to organise bookings and ensure fair access to available Hajj seats. The payment rollout comes as Saudi authorities continue implementing major upgrades across Mina ahead of Hajj 2026, including the introduction of a new identity for pilgrim tents covering more than 24,000 square metres. The upgraded tents are distributed across two main locations in Mina, the upper area along King Abdulaziz Road and the lower site behind Al Khaif Mosque, in a move [...]
