Nusuk vs Maqam vs Tawakkalna: Which App Does What for Umrah

Table of Contents

• Nusuk, The Booking and Permit App You Must Have [1]
• Tawakkalna, The Digital Identity and Services App
• Maqam, The Older Package Platform (And Why You Probably Do Not Need It)
• Side-by-Side Comparison Table
• Which Apps Should You Actually Install?
• How to Download and Set Up Each App
• Common Mistakes People Make
• FAQ
• Notes

Nusuk, The Booking and Permit App You Must Have

Nusuk is the official digital platform of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. If you are travelling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah independently, meaning you booked your own flights, hotel, and visa, Nusuk is the app you use to book your Umrah permit and your Rawdah visit slot [1][2].

As of April 2026, Nusuk has over 51 million users across more than 190 countries, up from 30 million in September 2025, the app is growing fast and is now the single official platform for pilgrim services [2].

What Nusuk actually does

• Umrah permits: Book a time slot for performing Umrah inside Masjid al-Haram. As of 2026, all international pilgrims arriving on a Tourist e-Visa or Umrah Visa must book an Umrah permit through Nusuk before entering the mosque [3].
• Rawdah permits: Book your visit to Riyad ul Jannah (the Rawdah) at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah [4].
• Visa services: For eligible nationalities, Nusuk handles tourist e-visa applications as part of the Umrah journey [1].
• Transport and accommodation: The app can help with booking domestic flights, hotel packages, and transport between cities [2].
• Religious guidance: The app includes prayer times, Qibla direction, and on-ground guidance inside the holy sites [2].

What Nusuk replaced

Before Nusuk, pilgrims had to juggle multiple apps, Eatmarna for Umrah permits and Rawdah bookings, plus Tawakkalna for health and vaccination verification [8]. Nusuk is the consolidation of those functions into one platform. Eatmarna is now fully retired; all bookings go through Nusuk [2].

As one source puts it: “For the past few years those travelling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were required to download both the Tawakkalna and Eatmarna app to verify their vaccination and entry requirements and for booking their pilgrimage”, Nusuk replaces that two-app workflow [8].

Tawakkalna, The Digital Identity and Services App

Tawakkalna is Saudi Arabia’s all-in-one digital government companion. Think of it as the Saudi equivalent of a national digital wallet: it holds your digital ID, health records, driving licence, vehicle registration, and access to over 1,000 government services [5][6].

What Tawakkalna actually does

• Digital ID and passport: Stores your national ID (for Saudis), iqama (for residents), and passport information for visitors, accepted as official identification by Saudi authorities [6].
• Health status: Shows your vaccination records, immunization history, and health status card, this is why pilgrims needed it during COVID-19 and why it can still be relevant for on-ground health checks [5].
• Driving licence and vehicle cards: If you plan to drive in Saudi Arabia, your rental car desk may ask to see your digital licence in Tawakkalna [6].
• Hajj and Umrah permit access: Tawakkalna can display your Hajj and Umrah permits, but it does NOT issue them, the actual booking and permit issuance happens in Nusuk [6].
• Other services: National address registration, children’s academic status, caution/wanted-person status checks, COVID-19 test results, and smart city services [5].

Do you actually need Tawakkalna for Umrah?

For most DIY Umrah travellers, the honest answer is: probably not, but having it installed does not hurt.

Tawakkalna is NOT the app that books your Umrah slot. That is Nusuk [6]. Tawakkalna is the app that a security guard or checkpoint might ask you to open to verify your identity, health status, or permit. In practice, most international visitors on a short Umrah trip are never asked to show Tawakkalna, the Nusuk app or a printed permit confirmation is usually enough.

However, if you are a Saudi resident doing Umrah (you hold an iqama), Tawakkalna is part of daily life and you will want it installed regardless. If you are an international visitor on a tourist visa, installing Tawakkalna as a backup is free, takes five minutes, and gives you peace of mind [5].

Maqam, The Older Package Platform (And Why You Probably Do Not Need It)

Maqam is the name that causes the most confusion. Some travellers hear it mentioned alongside Nusuk and Tawakkalna and assume it is a third app they must install. In reality, Maqam is an older platform that predates Nusuk and serves a different purpose [7].

What Maqam actually is

Maqam was designed as a platform for international pilgrims booking Umrah packages through licensed tour operators. It helps with choosing Umrah packages from authorised agents, applying for visas through those operators, booking flights and accommodation as part of a bundled package, and arranging domestic tourism add-ons [7].

Why you probably do not need Maqam

If you are a DIY traveller booking your own flights, hotels, and visa independently, Maqam is not relevant to you [7]. Maqam is a B2B-like platform that sits between tour operators and their customers. You interact with your tour agent, not with Maqam directly.

Nusuk has largely absorbed the consumer-facing role that Maqam was originally meant to fill. The official Nusuk Umrah platform now handles “visa issuance to package booking without the need for external agents” [1]. That is exactly the space Maqam used to occupy.

You might encounter Maqam if you book a full Umrah package through a licensed agent that still uses the platform on the back end, but you, the traveller, will not need to download or use Maqam yourself.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

What it does [1][2][6]	Nusuk	Tawakkalna	Maqam
Book Umrah permit	Yes, mandatory for international pilgrims [3]	No	No
Book Rawdah visit	Yes [4]	No	No
Visa application	Yes, for eligible nationalities [1]	No	Only through licensed operators [7]
Digital ID / passport	No	Yes [6]	No
Health status / vaccination	No	Yes [5]	No
Book hotels and flights	Yes, as part of packages [2]	No	Yes, via tour operators [7]
Who needs it	Every international pilgrim	Residents strongly; visitors optionally	Package-tour customers only
Official status	Ministry of Hajj and Umrah [1]	SDAIA (government) [5]	Legacy platform

Which Apps Should You Actually Install?

Here is the practical answer, broken down by traveller type.

If you are an international DIY traveller (tourist visa or Umrah visa)

1. Nusuk, non-negotiable. You cannot enter Masjid al-Haram for Umrah without a permit booked through Nusuk [3]. Download it before you leave home, set up your account, verify your ID, and book your permits as soon as your travel dates are finalised.
2. Tawakkalna, recommended, not required. Install it as a backup. It is free and takes five minutes. If a checkpoint or health screening asks for it, you have it. If nobody asks, it sits unused, no loss [6].
3. Maqam, skip it. You are not booking through a tour operator, so Maqam has no function for you. Do not waste phone storage or mental energy on it [7].

If you are a Saudi resident (iqama holder)

1. Nusuk, required for Umrah and Rawdah permits. Even as a resident, you need a permit from Nusuk to perform Umrah during peak seasons. During off-peak times, entry rules are more relaxed, but having the app ready is safer [3].
2. Tawakkalna, you already have it. Your digital ID, iqama, driving licence, and vehicle registration live here. It is part of daily life in Saudi Arabia [5][6].
3. Maqam, ignore it. Same as above, unless your HR department booked you a package through an operator.

How to Download and Set Up Each App

Nusuk

• Download: App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Search “Nusuk” (نسك). The official app is published by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah [1].
• Setup steps: Register with your passport number and nationality, verify your identity (photo of passport bio page), link your visa (tourist e-visa or Umrah visa), and book your Umrah permit and Rawdah slot [3].
• Languages: Arabic, English, Urdu, French, Indonesian, and more.
• Cost: Free [1].

Tawakkalna

• Download: App Store, Google Play, AppGallery, or Galaxy Store. Search “Tawakkalna Services” (توكلنا خدمات). Published by SDAIA.
• Setup steps: Register with your passport number (visitors) or iqama number (residents), verify via SMS, and your digital identity card should populate automatically [6].
• Languages: Arabic, English, and several others.
• Cost: Free [6].

Maqam

• If your tour operator uses Maqam, they will guide you through it. There is no reason for a DIY traveller to seek it out independently [7].

Common Mistakes People Make

1. Waiting until you arrive in Saudi Arabia to download Nusuk. You need an Umrah permit booked before you enter Masjid al-Haram [3]. Permits can fill up during peak seasons (Ramadan, December holidays). Download and book at home with stable Wi-Fi.
2. Confusing Tawakkalna with Nusuk. Tawakkalna does not book Umrah permits. If you cannot find the permit-booking section in Tawakkalna, you are in the wrong app, switch to Nusuk [6].
3. Trying to download APK files from third-party sites. The Saudi Ministry discourages downloading Nusuk from unofficial sources. Use the official App Store or Google Play, or visit nusuk.sa directly [1].
4. Ignoring app updates before your trip. Both Nusuk and Tawakkalna receive frequent updates. Open each app a day before your flight, accept any updates, and confirm your account is still logged in [1].
5. Assuming you need all three apps. You do not. The practical minimum is Nusuk. Adding Tawakkalna is a smart optional step. Maqam is irrelevant for independent travellers [7].

FAQ

Q: Do I really need Tawakkalna if I have Nusuk?
A: For most international visitors, Nusuk alone is enough. Tawakkalna is Saudi Arabia’s digital identity app, useful if a checkpoint asks for it, but not required for booking Umrah permits [6].

Q: Is Eatmarna still a thing? Should I download it?
A: No. Eatmarna has been fully replaced by Nusuk [2]. Do not download Eatmarna, it is obsolete.

Q: Can I use the Nusuk website instead of the app?
A: Yes, nusuk.sa and umrah.nusuk.sa offer web-based booking. But the app is more convenient for on-the-ground use, especially for showing your permit QR code at the mosque entrance [1].

Q: Do children need their own Nusuk account?
A: Children travelling with parents can usually be added to the parent’s Nusuk account. Check the latest guidance in the app during booking, policies on companion permits vary by season [1].

Q: What if I arrive and Nusuk shows “No Available Slots”?
A: This is a common issue during peak periods. UmrahDIY has a separate guide on troubleshooting Nusuk availability. In short: check back frequently, try off-peak times (late night or early morning slots), and ensure your visa and passport are correctly registered in the app [3].

Notes

This article is correct as of 2026-07-27.

1. [1] Nusuk Official Platform (Ministry of Hajj and Umrah), nusuk.sa. Accessed 2026-07-27.
2. [2] Wego Travel Blog, “Nusuk App 2026: What We Know About the Umrah Booking Application”, blog.wego.com/nusuk-app/. Published 2026. 51M users statistic sourced from Saudi Press Agency via Wego.
3. [3] HalalBooking, “Nusuk App Guide 2026: How to Book Umrah & Rawdah Permits”, halalbooking.com/en/umrah/plan/nusuk. Published 2026.
4. [4] Saudipedia, “Nusuk App”, saudipedia.com/en/nusuk-app. SDAIA-backed encyclopedia.
5. [5] Saudipedia, “Tawakkalna Application”, saudipedia.com/en/tawakkalna-application. SDAIA-backed encyclopedia.
6. [6] Wego Travel Blog, “Tawakkalna App: Saudi Arabia Guide for Expats & Visitors 2026”, blog.wego.com/tawakkalna-app-saudi-arabia/. Published 2026.
7. [7] The National (UAE), “Nusuk app: What is Saudi Arabia’s platform for Hajj pilgrims and is it needed for Umrah?”, thenationalnews.com. Published 2022-11-18.
8. [8] UmrahCompanions, “Saudi Arabia Introduces the Nusuk App for Pilgrims”, umrahcompanions.com. Published 2026.