Planning your Umrah journey is a deeply spiritual experience, and for many, the highlight is visiting the Rawdah Al-Sharifah in the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid Nabawi) in Madinah. As of 2024 and looking ahead to 2025, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced streamlined rules to ensure every pilgrim has a fair and peaceful opportunity to pray in this sacred space.
For a complete overview of your pilgrimage, check out our Complete Guide to Umrah from the UK (2026).
The Nusuk App: Your Essential Tool
The primary way to secure your visit is through the Nusuk app. This official platform is mandatory for all pilgrims—both domestic and international—to book their slots. Here is the step-by-step process to ensure your booking is successful:
- Download and Register: Install the Nusuk app from the App Store or Google Play. Register using your passport details and Umrah visa number.
- Select Your Service: Navigate to the “Prophet’s Mosque Services” section and select “Booking of Permit for Noble Rawdah.”
- Choose Your Slot: You will see available time slots for men and women. Select a time that fits your schedule.
- Receive Your Permit: Once confirmed, a QR code permit will be generated. Save this to your phone, as it will be scanned at the entrance.
If you have more questions about the process, our Comprehensive FAQ Guide for British Pilgrims is a great resource.
New Features: Instant Booking and Waitlists
To improve the pilgrim experience, the Ministry has introduced two significant updates:
- Instant Booking: Pilgrims can now schedule multiple visits throughout the year, provided they are in the vicinity of the mosque and capacity allows.
- Waitlist Option: If your preferred time is fully booked, you can join a waitlist. The app will notify you if a slot opens up, allowing you to confirm your reservation immediately.
Visiting Hours for Men and Women
Visiting times are strictly regulated to manage the flow of pilgrims. While these are subject to change, the current general schedule is:
For Men:
– Daily: 2:00 AM until Fajr; 11:20 AM until Isha.
– Fridays: Special slots before and after Jummah prayer.
For Women:
– Daily: After Fajr until 11:00 AM; after Isha until 2:00 AM.
– Fridays: Morning slots until 9:00 AM; late-night slots after Isha.
Important Tips for a Smooth Visit
- Arrive Early: Aim to be at the designated gate at least 30 minutes before your scheduled slot.
- Health Status: Ensure your health status is updated on the Tawakkalna app, as it is often linked with Nusuk for verification.
- Respect the Sanctity: The Rawdah is a place of intense prayer and reflection. Keep noise to a minimum and follow the instructions of the mosque staff.
The Rawdah ash-Sharifah (also known as Riyazul Jannah or the Noble Garden) is the sacred area inside the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi) in Madinah, located between the Prophet’s ﷺ house and his minbar.
Because of its immense spiritual value and limited space, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah strictly regulates access. If you are writing a guide or a blog post for pilgrims, here is the complete, comprehensive detail of how the Rawdah permit system works.
📋 The Golden Rule: The “Once Per Year” Policy
The most critical rule for pilgrims to know is the 365-day restriction.
- The Rule: A pilgrim is legally permitted to book and enter the Rawdah only once every 365 days.
- The Risk: If a pilgrim books a slot and misses it, or tries to book a second visit during a combined Umrah and Hajj trip within the same year, the app will block the request. It is a strictly enforced, one-shot opportunity per lunar year.
📲 Step-by-Step Booking Process via Nusuk
To secure entry, pilgrims must use the official Nusuk App.
1. Account Creation & Verification
- Pilgrims must download the app and register as a “Visitor” (for international travelers).
- They will need to input their passport number, nationality, date of birth, phone number, email, and active Umrah/Tourist Visa number.
2. Navigating to the Service
- On the app home screen, tap on “Prophet’s Mosque Services.”
- Select either “Praying in the Noble Rawdah – Men” or “Praying in the Noble Rawdah – Women.” (Note: Selecting the wrong gender means automatic denial at the gate, as timings are completely segregated).
3. Understanding the Calendar Colors
When the calendar screen loads, it uses a traffic-light indicator system:
- 🟢 Green: Slots are available right now. Book immediately!
- 🔴 Red: The time slots for this date are completely full.
- ⚫ Grey: The dates have not been released by the system yet. (Tip for your readers: Grey is good news! It means the slots haven’t been taken; they just haven’t opened yet).
4. Confirming Attendance & Securing the QR Code
- Attendance Confirmation: Once a date and a 30-minute time window are selected, the pilgrim must explicitly confirm their attendance via the app. The option opens 48 hours before the visit and closes 2 hours before the slot.
- The QR Code: Upon final confirmation, the app generates a digital permit containing a QR Code.
- Crucial Tip: Instruct your readers to screenshot the QR code immediately or save it to their Apple/Google Wallet. Network congestion around the mosque can make opening the app live at the gate difficult.
🕰️ Gender Segregation & Timings
Men and women visit the Rawdah at entirely separate times of the day to ensure privacy and crowd control. While exact hours shift slightly depending on the season and crowd size, the general schedule follows:
- Men’s Sessions: Typically held during the early morning hours (after Fajr prayer) and late evening/night hours.
- Women’s Sessions: Typically allocated during the late night (after Isha prayer) and specific afternoon windows.
🚶♂️ Rules on the Day of the Visit
- Arrive Early: Pilgrims should head to the designated courtyard holding areas at least 15 to 30 minutes before their slot. Missing the time window means forfeiture of the permit.
- Designated Gates: The permit will specify a precise entry gate. Generally, men enter through the Bilal Gate (Gate 25) area, and women enter through the Pullman/Northern side (Gate 37) area.
- Age Restrictions: Children under the age of 5 (and in some peak seasons, under 10) are generally not permitted inside the Rawdah holding lines.
- Luggage Restrictions: Large bags, backpacks, or heavy luggage are strictly forbidden. Only small personal waist pouches or string bags for shoes are allowed.
- Media Rules: The Ministry enforces a strict environment regarding photography and videography inside the sacred areas. Advise pilgrims to keep phones away and focus entirely on their worship.
💡 Pro-Tips for Getting a Slot
Refresh Cycles: Slots are released in rolling cycles (usually 7–14 days in advance, closing to 3–5 days during peak seasons like Ramadan). If the app says “No slots available,” pilgrims should not panic; they just need to log back in and refresh periodically throughout the day as cancellations and new batches drop.
At Bismillah Umrah Tours, we are committed to making your pilgrimage as seamless as possible. If you are booking one of our British Umrah packages, our team is always available to help you navigate the Nusuk app and ensure your spiritual journey is stress-free. May your visit to the Prophet’s Mosque be accepted and full of blessings.
The “Central Area” Myth: The official platform notes that to utilize certain instant tracking functions, being in the central area of Madinah helps, but pilgrims can actually check and secure permits days in advance from home or their hotel in Makkah if slots open up.
