Ministry of Islamic Affairs: Registration period for pilgrims for next year’s Hajj season begins today
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs announced the opening of the nomination period for pilgrims for the 1448 AH Hajj season via the “Sahl” platform, effective today, Sunday, in accordance with the procedures and regulations approved by the ministry.
In a statement to KUNA, the ministry said that nominees will receive nomination notifications through the “Sahl” app, and each nominee must register with one of the Hajj agencies within three days of receiving the notification. It clarified that completing registration requires paying the advance deposit set by the Supreme Committee for Hajj and Umrah for each pilgrim in the group, emphasizing that “registration with a Hajj group cannot be completed without paying the advance deposit.” Nomination will be canceled if the nominee fails to register with a Hajj agency within the specified deadline.
The ministry added that a nominee receiving a nomination notification for the first time may defer their nomination once through the “Sahl” app. However, those who were previously nominated for the 1447 AH Hajj season and deferred their nomination are not eligible to defer again. It noted that “deferral applies to the entire application and individual members cannot be deferred separately.”
To facilitate communication between nominees and Hajj agencies, the ministry pointed out the option to visit the eighth “Labayk” Hajj and Umrah Exhibition or the agencies’ offices. The exhibition opens tomorrow and runs for seven days, from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM, at the Kuwait International Fairground in the External Hall (B).
The ministry specified the requirements for registering with Hajj groups, which include uploading a personal photo and a passport photo via the “Sahl” app, as well as a civil ID image via the “Huwiyati” app, along with the required advance deposit amount to confirm the booking. It also stipulated that the passport must have a validity of at least six months from the date of the pilgrims’ departure and must remain valid until December 2027.
Regarding organizational timelines, the ministry stressed the necessity of paying the first installment immediately upon receiving the nomination notification, and completing the payment of the contracted Hajj package by November 1, 2026, which is also the final deadline for transferring between Hajj agencies. It explained that transferring from one group to another is available only once.
On the policy of cancellation and refund, the ministry stated that those who cancel their registration on or before December 30, 2026, will receive a full refund of all amounts paid for the package without any deductions. If cancellation occurs after this date, a full refund will be issued without deductions only if the vacant seat resulting from the cancellation is filled by a nominee from the reserve list and the replacement’s registration procedures are completed.
The ministry confirmed that failure to pay the full advance deposit for the Hajj cost leads to the complete cancellation of the application. It noted that details of Hajj groups and prices can be accessed through the Hajj group data inquiry service available via the “Sahl” app.
