Nusuk food voucher for UmrahWhat we know
- Last updated:
- Written by:
- Hajra Fatima
- Reading time:
- 5 minutes
Short answer
Pakistani news outlets reported in July and August 2026 that travellers from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Egypt will pay about SAR 20 a day for meals, built into the Umrah visa fee. You would get a meal code tied to your visa and use it at restaurants linked to the Nusuk app. We could not find the rule on the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah or Nusuk websites on 26/10/2026, so check Nusuk and your agent's quote before you book.
On this page
The Nusuk food voucher is one of the changes that will show up in your Umrah budget this season. Every report we found comes from news sites and travel blogs, and none names an official Saudi notice. This page sets out what was reported, what nobody has explained yet, and the questions to put to whoever sells you your package. We update it in place when an official source appears.
What was reported
Two ProPakistani reports, on 18/07/2026 and 04/08/2026, gave the main details. The News repeated them.
- The amount: about SAR 20 per pilgrim per day.
- How it is paid: it is added to the visa fee.
- The start: 1 Rabi al-Awwal. On the Umm al-Qura calendar that is expected on 14/08/2026. None of the reports gives a Gregorian date.
- Who it covers first: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Egypt. A wider rollout was said to be expected later, with no date.
- How you use it: each pilgrim gets a unique code linked to the visa. You redeem meals with the code at restaurants connected to the Nusuk app. The reports say more than 10,000 restaurants in Makkah and Madinah are being linked.
- How the total is set: the 18/07/2026 report says the value depends on the length of stay and is checked before the visa is issued.
- The reason given: to standardise food services, raise quality and discourage unregistered providers.
An example, using only the reported rate: if the charge is SAR 20 for each of 10 days, that is SAR 200 per person. The reports do not say whether days or nights are counted, so ask.
What nobody has confirmed
On 26/10/2026 we could not find any of these in an official source:
- The rule itself. We searched the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah site and the Saudi Press Agency. We found a catering contract channel for Umrah companies and a Nusuk Card discount scheme, and nothing about a visa meal voucher. The ProPakistani report of 18/07/2026 does not name the body that announced it, and The News says only "according to reports".
- Whether it is already charged. The first report said the rule was set to take effect. The August report said it was introduced. We found no report from the weeks since that shows what travellers have paid.
- What happens to unused value, or to a pilgrim who leaves early. No report says whether it is refunded, carried over or lost.
- Whether it covers a set number of meals a day, or whether you can use it at any restaurant on the list.
If you read a firm answer to any of these on another site, look for the notice it quotes.
What it could mean for your budget
The News and ProPakistani both expect package prices to rise as agents add the cost. If you already hold a quote from before August, ask whether the meal charge was counted in it. A low quote that leaves it out can end up higher than a dearer quote that includes it.
This is also why "is food included?" has become a real question when you compare Umrah packages with food. Hotel breakfast, if your package has it, is a separate matter from the Nusuk meal charge. Do not assume one covers the other.
Questions to ask before you pay
Put these to your agent, in writing if you can:
- Is the Nusuk meal charge in the price you quoted, or added later?
- How many days is it based on, and does that match my nights in Saudi Arabia?
- Will I receive my meal code, and in which app or document?
- Where can I use it? Is it limited to certain restaurants near the Haram?
- What happens to the value if I leave early or do not use all of it?
- Does my hotel include breakfast, and is that in the price?
How it fits with the other new rules
Pakistani travellers face three changes together this season. The meal charge goes into the visa fee. A NADRA-linked vaccination record, including the polio certificate, is checked at some airports, as our NIMS NADRA vaccination certificate guide explains. And a new one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa allows up to 90 days in total in Saudi Arabia. No fee has been published for that visa either, so it is unclear how a meal charge would apply across several visits.
If you are booking for next year, the Umrah packages 2027 guide covers the season dates and what a quote should list.
How Maqam e Haram helps
We plan Umrah for families from our office in Islamabad, with hotels near the Haram, transport, ziyarat and our own team in Makkah and Madinah. We help with Nusuk and Rawdah booking and meet families at Jeddah airport. We are not the source of this rule and cannot confirm it for you. Send us your dates and ask for a written quote, then check it against the questions above.
We don't issue visas and can't promise one. The Saudi authorities decide. See our visa information. Message us on WhatsApp or call +92 309 9022120.
Questions and answers
What is the Nusuk food voucher?
A daily meal charge reported to be built into the Umrah visa fee for travellers from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Egypt. You get a code and use it at restaurants linked to the Nusuk app.
How much is the Nusuk food voucher?
About SAR 20 per pilgrim per day, according to ProPakistani and The News. We found no official figure.
Is the food voucher compulsory?
The reports call it mandatory and built into the visa fee. We could not find an official notice, so confirm on Nusuk or with your agent.
Is it already in force?
The reports said it starts on 1 Rabi al-Awwal, expected on 14/08/2026. We found no report that confirms what travellers have paid since.
Does it include my hotel breakfast?
Nothing we read says so. Treat hotel breakfast and the Nusuk meal charge as separate, and ask your agent.
Does it apply to children?
No report says. Ask your agent how it is counted for each traveller.
Can I get a refund for unused days?
No report says. Ask before you pay.
Does it apply to travellers from the UK, USA or Canada?
The first phase was reported for Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Egypt. Other countries were not mentioned.
Will it make Umrah packages more expensive?
The News and ProPakistani expect package prices to rise. Compare quotes line by line.
Related pages
Sources
The official pages and references we used, with the date we checked them.
- ProPakistani, Saudi Arabia to include mandatory meal voucher into Umrah visa (18/07/2026), checked 26/10/2026: propakistani.pk/2026/07/18/saudi-arabia-to-include-mandatory-meal-voucher-into-umrah-visa/ (opens in a new tab)
- ProPakistani, Mandatory food vouchers introduced for Pakistani Umrah pilgrims (04/08/2026), checked 26/10/2026: propakistani.pk/2026/08/04/mandatory-food-vouchers-introduced-for-pakistani-umrah-pilgrims/ (opens in a new tab)
- The News, Riyadh makes food vouchers mandatory for Umrah pilgrims (04/08/2026), checked 26/10/2026: www.thenews.pk/print/1430085-riyadh-makes-food-vouchers-mandatory-for-umrah-pilgrims (opens in a new tab)
- Hajj Reporters, Mandatory Nusuk meal voucher may raise Umrah visa costs (17/07/2026), checked 26/10/2026: hajjreporters.com/mandatory-nusuk-meal-voucher-may-raise-umrah-visa-costs/ (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Umrah season calendar for 1448 AH, checked 26/10/2026 (no mention of a meal voucher): haj.gov.sa/en/Media-Center/Ministry-News/2026/Ministry-of-Hajj-and-Umrah-Announces-the-Umrah-Season-Calendar-for-1448-AH (opens in a new tab)