Soliu Oyesiji.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced a new policy requiring participating countries to secure backup accommodation in Makkah for at least one percent of their pilgrims’ quota ahead of the 2026 Hajj.
Under the policy, countries must book additional hotel spaces as a contingency measure to address unforeseen circumstances during the pilgrimage. The arrangement must be completed on the Nusuk Masar platform before visa issuance.
“By implication, a country with 40,000 pilgrims will have to book an extra hotel for approximately 400 pilgrims that will not be used for accommodation but as a buffer in case of unforeseen circumstances. This accommodation must be booked on the Nusuk Masar before visa issuance would be possible”.
The directive was announced during a virtual meeting with Hajj participating countries, according to a statement issued by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and signed by its Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, Fatima Sanda Usara.
