The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia has confirmed that South African pilgrims will be able to access a Hajj OTA to book their 2026 pilgrimages in 2026, as part of its move away from local Hajj travel operators.
In a notice to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Dirco, the Embassy said South Africans would transition from using Nusuk Masaar a booking tool for accredited Hajj and Umrah agents to Nusuk Hajj, a direct platform that allows pilgrims to arrange their own Hajj travel and accommodation.
The move effectively sidelines the South African Hajj and Umrah Council SAHUC, which had recently positioned itself as the countrys sole domestic operator and regulator for Hajj arrangements, which saw backlash from local operators. It also resulted in calls for greater financial transparency within the organisation.
