Saudi Arabia has taken decisive steps to crack down on illegal Hajj pilgrims by introducing a tagging system that will distinguish legal pilgrims from unauthorized individuals.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, aims to ensure the smooth and secure access of authorized pilgrims to the holy sites during the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage season.

In a recent development, the Saudi Minister of Hajj, Tawfik Al Rabiah, officially launched the Nusuk Card, which will be distributed to legal pilgrims.

The inaugural batch of Nusuk Cards was presented to the Indonesian Hajj mission in a ceremony held in Indonesia.

The Nusuk Card, available in both physical and digital formats, contains comprehensive data about each pilgrim.

Legal pilgrims are required to carry the card at all times to gain access to the holy places and move within the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

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Overseas pilgrims will receive the Nusuk Card from their respective Hajj offices after obtaining pilgrimage visas, while domestic pilgrims will obtain it from designated service providers after receiving Hajj permits.

The Ministry of Hajj has described the Nusuk Card as an official printed card that distinguishes legal pilgrims from others. The digital version of the card can be accessed through Saudi apps Nusuk and Tawakklana.

In addition to launching the tagging system, Saudi Arabia has been actively warning Muslims against falling victim to fake campaigns and websites related to Hajj.

The Ministry of Hajj emphasized the importance of relying on official channels to guarantee access to the pilgrimage and safeguard the rights of pilgrims during their sacred journey.

It further stated that all pilgrims must obtain a Hajj permit through the Nusk platform, as performing Hajj without an official permit is considered sinful according to the Council of Senior Scholars, Saudi Arabia’s highest Islamic authority.

Saudi Arabia has begun preparations for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage under a new strategy for overseas pilgrims.

The allocation of specific places for different countries will no longer be implemented. Instead, countries will be allotted places based on the timeline of finalizing contracts.

This new mechanism aims to streamline preparations for Hajj, which is an obligatory Islamic duty to be fulfilled at least once in a lifetime by financially and physically capable Muslims.