The Nusuk App (previously Eatmarna) is a government digital app launched by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to obtain permits for visiting the Grand Mosque in Makkah al-Mukarramah and the Prophet's Mosque in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah for performing the five daily prayers or Umrah in the Grand Mosque. It was released on Google's and Apple's app stores in 2020 under the name Eatmarna before being renamed in 2022.
Changing the app's name from “Eatmarna” to “Nusuk”
On September 28, 2022, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah invited Umrah pilgrims coming from within the Kingdom and from all over the world to benefit from the Eatmarna App, which has now been renamed Nusuk. The change to the name Nusuk coincided with the release of new Umrah appointment dates for September 2022.
In two years, the Eatmarna App achieved the registration of about 21.5 million Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and issued more than 34.4 million permits for performing the Umrah. Additionally, 6.4 million permits were issued for prayers in al-Rawdah al-Sharifah at the Prophet's Mosque. The total number of nationalities of pilgrims registered in the app reached 213 nationalities from all over the world.
Objectives of developing Nusuk App
The Nusuk App was established to organize visits to the Two Holy Mosques and facilitate their procedures. This was in response to the efforts of governmental entities in the Kingdom to address the COVID-19 pandemic, as it was linked with the Tawakkalna App.
Nusuk App features
The Nusuk App facilitates the booking of permits and appointment times for performing Umrah and visiting the Prophet's Mosque after foreign pilgrims have obtained their visas. It offers easy and accessible electronic procedures available around the clock. The Nusuk website also enables travelers from all over the world to organize and plan their visits easily, from applying for an electronic visa to booking hotels and air flights. Additionally, various tourism companies offer multiple packages through this app for this purpose.
Issuing permits in the Nusuk App
The user's journey with the app begins after downloading it from the app store. Then, they log in using their national ID or residency number and password. After that, they can request a permit, add and specify companions, choose the available dates and times for Umrah and prayers based on the operational capacity, determine the assembly point, and review the entry instructions for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. Consequently, the permit is issued.
Nusuk App and Umrah visits
Relying on the Nusuk App (previously known as Eatmarna), the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah began implementing a phased plan to gradually return to performing Umrah and prayers in the Two Holy Mosques in 2020. The first phase of the plan aimed to reach 30 percent of the operational capacity of the Two Holy Mosques, while the second phase aimed for 75 percent. The ministry aimed to accommodate around twenty thousand Umrah pilgrims and sixty thousand worshipers in the third phase, which equates to 100 percent of the operational capacity. In the fourth phase, 100 percent of the capacity of the Two Holy Mosques was allocated.
In 2020, the ministry announced a number of regulations for issuing permits through the app, which included the ability to issue the permit through both the Tawakkalna and Eatamrna apps (currently "Nusuk") and the requirement to be vaccinated against the coronavirus with one of its three types, which are: fully vaccinated, first dose vaccinated, and recovered and vaccinated.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah worked on developing the app in collaboration with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). All those intending to visit the Two Holy Mosques, including citizens, residents, and visitors, benefit from its services. The app is available for free, and it supports multiple languages, including Arabic, English, French, Turkish, Urdu, Malay, and Persian.
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