Visiting the Rawdah: how to book your permit on Nusuk

The Rawdah is the space between the Prophet's ﷺ house and his minbar, of which he said: "What lies between my house and my minbar is one of the gardens of Paradise" (al-Bukhari and Muslim). Praying there is what many visitors to Madinah hope for most, and today every visit is booked ahead.

The permit

You need a free permit from Nusuk, the official app for Umrah and visits to the two mosques. Without one, the staff won't let you in.

1. Download Nusuk and sign up with the passport and visa you entered Saudi Arabia on, or your residency if you live in the Kingdom.
2. Choose the Rawdah prayer service for men or for women, to match the visitor: a permit booked under the wrong one isn't accepted at the gate.
3. Pick a day and a time, add anyone travelling with you, and confirm. The permit stays in the app with its QR code.

Right now each person can have one Rawdah permit every 365 days, so choose your slot with care. The rule has changed before; the app shows what your own account can book.

When to book

Slots are released in batches and go fast. Book as soon as your dates are set, ideally before you reach Madinah. Nusuk also offers an instant entry for visitors already near the mosque, when places are free.

Times for men and women

Men and women go in at different times, by different routes. In mid-2026 the hours were:

• Women: from after Fajr until 11:00, and from after Isha until 2:00. On Fridays the morning visits end at 9:00.
• Men: from 2:00 until Fajr, and from 11:20 until Isha. On Fridays also from 9:20 to 11:20, then from after the Friday prayer until Isha.

The hours change in Ramadan and in the busy seasons. Your permit shows your time; be there at least half an hour before it.

On the day

• You go in from the southern courtyards, opposite Makkah Gate (Gate 37). Follow the signs and the staff to the line for your time.
• Keep the permit open in the app with the screen bright, your phone charged, and your passport or residency card with you.
• Each group has about 10 to 15 minutes inside: time for two rak'ahs and a quiet du'a, while the staff keep the lines moving.
• Pray calmly and make room for others. Everyone around you has waited for this moment too.

Where to stay

The Rawdah's entrance is on the south side of the mosque, so the shortest walks are from the hotels south of it, near Bab al-Salam and Makkah Gate. Each hotel's page shows the walk to its nearest gate, and to the nearest women's entrance.

The permit is always free. Never pay anyone who offers you a Rawdah slot: book in the Nusuk app and nowhere else.