Quick answer
To pray in the Rawdah you need a free permit from the Nusuk app or website for a set date and time slot. Everyone aged 5 and over needs their own permit. The General Authority for the Two Holy Mosques says a booked permit is allowed once every 365 days, with Nusuk's Instant Track open to visitors near the mosque when there is space. Men and women visit at separate times, for about 10–15 minutes inside.
Last checked 2 November 2026. The authorities change Rawdah rules from time to time, so check Nusuk for your dates.
The rules at a glance
| Rule | Current position | How sure |
|---|---|---|
| Permit needed | Yes, for a set date and time slot, through the Nusuk app or website | Official |
| Cost of the permit | Free, issued straight away | Official |
| Who can apply | Citizens, residents, visitors and GCC citizens | Official |
| Age | Everyone aged 5 and over needs their own permit | Official (Ministry FAQ) |
| How often | One booked permit every 365 days (Dec 2025 announcement); the Ministry FAQ still says 30 days | Conflicting, plan one visit |
| Same-day visits | Instant Track in Nusuk when you are near the mosque and there is space | Reported by the authority |
| Men and women | Separate times and separate entrances | Official |
| Time inside | About 10–15 minutes per group | Reported by the authority |
| Wheelchairs | Elderly visitors may enter in a manual wheelchair | Reported by the authority |
| Entry point | Southern courtyards, opposite Makkah Gate 37 | Reported by the authority |
Sources: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Rawdah permit e-service (free, Nusuk; updated 19 Oct 2026); Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: FAQ (age 5 and over, companions, 30-day interval); Siasat Daily (6 Dec 2025), reporting the General Authority for the Two Holy Mosques: timings, once every 365 days, Instant Track, wheelchairs, Gate 37
How often can you visit? The one rule that conflicts
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's FAQ answers "Yes, 30 days" when asked about a set interval between Rawdah visits. The announcement reported in December 2025 from the General Authority for the Two Holy Mosques says booking is allowed once every 365 days, and adds that Instant Track is available near the mosque.
Until the Ministry publishes one figure, plan your trip around one booked visit. If you want to return, check in Nusuk whether you are eligible, or try Instant Track when you are at the mosque.
Sources: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: FAQ (age 5 and over, companions, 30-day interval); Siasat Daily (6 Dec 2025), reporting the General Authority for the Two Holy Mosques: timings, once every 365 days, Instant Track, wheelchairs, Gate 37
What changes in Ramadan and the Hajj season
The visiting windows are revised for busy seasons. For the Hajj season the authorities published separate times through the Saudi Press Agency, and Ramadan usually brings its own schedule. Check Nusuk for your dates rather than relying on the regular timetable.
Source: Saudi Press Agency: Rawdah visit times for the Hajj season via Nusuk
What we do not know yet
- Whether visits through Instant Track count towards the 365-day limit.
- The men's Friday daytime window: reports give either one window from 9:00 am until Isha, or 9:20–11:20 am and then after Jumu'ah until Isha.
- Whether children under 5 are let in with a parent. The Ministry only says permits are needed from age 5; entry is decided at the gate.
Sources: Siasat Daily (6 Dec 2025), reporting the General Authority for the Two Holy Mosques: timings, once every 365 days, Instant Track, wheelchairs, Gate 37; Saudi Press Agency: Rawdah visit times for the Hajj season via Nusuk; Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: FAQ (age 5 and over, companions, 30-day interval)
The permit is free
Slots full, or booking for parents or a group?
You can book the Rawdah yourself for free in Nusuk. If you'd rather not keep refreshing, our team watches for slots and books men's and women's windows inside your Madinah stay. You pay our fee only once a slot is confirmed.
Questions
Is the Rawdah permit free?
Yes. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lists it as free and issued straight away in Nusuk. Never pay anyone for the permit itself. Some services, including ours, charge for help finding and booking slots, and that fee is for their time, not the permit.
Can I visit the Rawdah twice on one trip?
Usually only once by booking. The December 2025 announcement allows one booked permit every 365 days, though the Ministry FAQ says 30 days. Instant Track near the mosque can sometimes give another visit when there is space.
Do I need a permit just to pray in the Prophet's Mosque?
No. The permit is for the Rawdah area only. You can pray anywhere else in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi and its courtyards without one.
Do children need a Rawdah permit?
Everyone aged 5 and over needs their own permit, according to the Ministry FAQ. Whether younger children are let in is decided at the entrance.
Go deeper
More Rawdah guides
- Timings for men & womenRawdah timings for men and women (2026–27)
- How to book on NusukHow to book a Rawdah permit on Nusuk, step by step
- Elderly & wheelchair usersRawdah with elderly parents or a wheelchair
Sources
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Rawdah permit e-service (free, Nusuk; updated 19 Oct 2026) (official)
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: FAQ (age 5 and over, companions, 30-day interval) (official)
- Siasat Daily (6 Dec 2025), reporting the General Authority for the Two Holy Mosques: timings, once every 365 days, Instant Track, wheelchairs, Gate 37 (reported)
- Saudi Press Agency (20 Oct 2026): two daily visiting periods for men and women (official)
- Saudi Press Agency: Rawdah visit times for the Hajj season via Nusuk (official)