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PilgrimageBooking Rawdah permits with Nusuk
Nusuk is Saudi Arabia's official pilgrimage platform — and for visitors to Medina, its everyday job is booking the timed permit you need to pray in the Rawdah inside the Prophet's Mosque.
What Nusuk is
Nusuk (nusuk.sa, with apps on iOS and Android) is the Saudi government's official platform for pilgrimage services — the successor to the earlier Eatmarna app. It issues Umrah permits for the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, sells services and packages, and — the reason most readers of this site need it — issues the free timed permits required to enter the Rawdah in the Prophet's Mosque and to greet the Prophet at his grave. Since walk-in access to the Rawdah ended, the app is effectively the only door in, so set it up before you travel rather than in the queue.
Setting up your account
Download the official app (check the publisher carefully — imitations exist) or use the website, then register with your email or phone number. You will need the passport you are travelling on — the number must match your Saudi visa record exactly — plus your basic personal details. Add family members as companions in your profile with their own document details; children are added the same way. Do all this at home on good Wi-Fi: the one-time verification codes and document upload are the fiddliest part of the whole process.
Booking a Rawdah permit, step by step
| Step | In the app |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sign in and make sure your (and companions') documents are verified in your profile |
| 2 | Choose the Rawdah visit service — visits are listed for the Prophet's Mosque in Medina |
| 3 | Select who is going: yourself alone, or yourself plus companions |
| 4 | Pick a date, then an available time slot — men's and women's slots are separate |
| 5 | Confirm, and save the permit with its QR code to your phone (a screenshot works offline) |
| 6 | Arrive at the signed Rawdah assembly point 15–30 minutes early with ID and the QR code |
Each visit inside the Rawdah is brief — the flow is managed in groups of a few minutes each — and each person is generally limited to one permit within a set period, so treat your slot as a single, unhurried opportunity rather than something to repeat daily. What the visit itself is like, and the etiquette inside, is covered on the Rawdah page and in the general etiquette guide.
Practical tips
- Book early, check often. Slots for peak weeks — Ramadan above all — vanish fast, but batches are released continually. Odd hours of the night are the easiest to get.
- Match your slot to your stay. Book for a middle day of your time in Medina, so a technical hiccup or a missed slot still leaves room to rebook. The itineraries assume exactly this.
- Keep the app working locally. A Saudi SIM or eSIM (easily bought at the airport) saves you from hunting Wi-Fi when a code or update is needed.
- Umrah travellers: the same account handles your Mecca services, so one properly verified profile covers the whole Hajj and Umrah journey.
Troubleshooting
No Rawdah slots are showing — what can I do?
Slots are released in batches and taken quickly in busy seasons. Keep checking at different times of day, look a few days further ahead, and be flexible about the hour — night slots free up more often. Remember too that each person may be limited to one permit within a set period; a recent visit can block new bookings until the interval passes.
Can I book for my family in one account?
Yes. Add each family member as a companion with their passport or ID details, then book a shared slot for the group, subject to availability. Men and women book separately, since the Rawdah has separate visiting times for each.
Do I need a permit just to pray in the mosque?
No — the Prophet's Mosque is open for all five daily prayers without any booking. The permit applies only to the Rawdah itself and the greeting at the Prophet's grave.
My passport number is not being accepted — why?
Your registered document must match the one on your Saudi visa record exactly — number and name spelling. If you renewed your passport after registering, update your profile document first, then try the booking again.