By Urban Shihemi, November 4, 2025 The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has officially announced the opening of registration for Hajj 1447 AH (2026) for Muslims residing in countries with minority Muslim populations. The registration process will begin on 15 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1447 AH, corresponding to October 7, 2025, and will be conducted exclusively through the official Nusuk Hajj Platform at hajj.nusuk.sa. According to the Ministry, this move aims to simplify access and enhance transparency in the pilgrimage registration process by allowing eligible pilgrims to apply directly without intermediaries or external agents. The digital platform offers an integrated and secure system where applicants can easily register, select suitable Hajj packages, and make payments under the full supervision of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The introduction of the Nusuk Hajj platform is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader digital transformation initiative, which seeks to improve services for pilgrims and ensure a smooth, accessible, and fraud-free experience for Muslims around the world. The Ministry emphasized that pilgrims are encouraged to use only the official Nusuk platform to avoid exploitation by unauthorized agents or websites. In September this year, The Kenya Hajj Mission through Hassan Ole Naado, National Chairman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), urged Kenyan Muslims intending to perform Hajj to begin preparations early to avoid last-minute challenges. In a move aimed at enhancing planning and service delivery, a payment deadline for prospective pilgrims has been set for February 2026. This early deadline is designed to allow the Kenya Hajj Mission and accredited agencies sufficient time to finalize all necessary arrangements, including securing accommodation and transport in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Pilgrims were advised to make timely payments in line with the categories and classes of services they wish to access during the pilgrimage. “We are advising all intending pilgrims to plan in advance and pay early, according to the Hajj packages they prefer, to ensure proper arrangements are made. Early compliance will also help in curbing illegal Hajj campaigns,” said Ole Naado. Hajj 2026 is expected around May 25-30, 2026, corresponding to the 8th to 13th of Dhul-Hijjah 1447.