Details of Golf Cart Fees for Tawaf and How to Recover Them
The golf cart fees for Tawaf at the Grand Mosque of Makkah are 25 Saudi riyals for a single seat, while the full service (Tawaf and Sa'i) costs 50 riyals per seat, including value-added tax. This cost rises if you wish to book a multi-seat cart dedicated to an entire family, with the price of a fully equipped cart ranging between 100 and 150 riyals per rite, along with designated tracks on the upper floors to ensure smooth movement and prevent crowding.
Price List of Golf Cart Fees for Tawaf and Sa'i at the Grand Mosque of Makkah
The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has approved a unified price list for electric transport services to prevent any financial exploitation within the holy sites. Payment is made exclusively through the official digital channels or the Authority's automated points of sale inside the Grand Mosque of Makkah.
| Service Type | Category | Fees (Saudi riyal) | Service Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tawaf only | Single seat (shared cart) | 25 SAR | The mezzanine floor / the roof |
| Sa'i only | Single seat (shared cart) | 25 SAR | The Mas'a mezzanine |
| Full Tawaf and Sa'i | Single seat (full Umrah) | 50 SAR | The Tawaf and Mas'a stations |
| Private cart (Tawaf only) | Family cart (up to 6 passengers) | 100 - 115 SAR | The dedicated cart track on the roof |
| Private cart (Tawaf and Sa'i) | All-inclusive family cart | 200 - 230 SAR | The circular track and the upper Mas'a |
These prices differ completely from renting manual carts. Manual carts operated by volunteers or licensed staff are subject to on-site fares ranging between 100 and 150 riyals per rite depending on peak times, while the Authority provides green manual carts that are "entirely free" for those who wish to drive and push them themselves, through the distribution points in Ajyad square and at Shubeikah bridge.
If you are accompanying an elderly person who needs special care, a single-seat option in a shared golf cart spares you physical and financial effort compared to requesting a private manual cart with a driver.
Steps to Book Golf Carts via Nusuk and the Unified Tanaqqol Transport Platform
Advance booking guarantees you a confirmed place without standing in the lines of the on-site ticket stations. The unified Tanaqqol transport platform (available via the "Tanaqqol" app and the "Nusuk" app) manages electric golf cart bookings through clear digital steps:
- Download the "Nusuk" app or the "Tanaqqol" app from the app store on your phone.
- Sign in to your account via the National Single Sign-On, or with your passport number for Umrah pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom.
- Select the "Grand Mosque Services" icon, then choose the "Electric Cart Booking" option.
- Specify the service type: Tawaf only, Sa'i only, or both rites together.
- Choose the required cart type (a shared single seat or a private family cart) and the number of individuals.
- Select the day and time slot that exactly matches your issued Umrah permit.
- Pay the amount via a mada card or credit cards so that a Quick Response code (QR Code) is issued to you.
Keep a copy of the QR Code image on your phone right away; the internet connection inside some mezzanine corridors may occasionally weaken due to crowd density and reinforced concrete, which may delay opening the app at the track gate.
How to Avoid Payment Errors and Choose the Tawaf Time
The most common problem visitors encounter is attempting to pay while the bank card is not enabled for online purchases, which suspends the booking for a period ranging from 15 to 30 minutes. First, make sure digital purchasing is activated through your bank's app.
Schedule the cart appointment to start at least half an hour after your actual entry time into the Grand Mosque of Makkah; reaching the mezzanine floor or the roof takes a long time on foot among the crowds, especially after the obligatory prayers. If you miss the time specified on the ticket without arriving, the booking is automatically cancelled and you will not be allowed to enter with the later groups.
Golf Cart Departure Locations Inside the Grand Mosque of Makkah
Golf carts do not operate at all on the ground level of the Mataf, in order to safeguard pilgrims traveling on foot. Departure stations are concentrated on two main levels inside the Grand Mosque of Makkah:
- The mezzanine floor station: located on the first floor, it primarily serves those performing Tawaf on the dedicated track, and it can be reached directly via the King Fahd Gate stairs or the Ajyad Gate elevators.
- The roof station: the widest and fastest-moving track, reached via the Shubeikah Gate elevators, Ajyad bridge, or the Al-Arqam electric stairs.
- The Mas'a mezzanine station: an elevated track dedicated to carts, connecting Safa and Marwah completely separate from the ground pedestrian route.
If your mobility is limited, take the Ajyad bridge route coming from the southern courtyards. The bridge carries you on an inclined level free of thresholds and stairs directly to the cart station on the upper floor.
Conditions and Procedures for Refunding Golf Cart Fees After Cancellation
The Tanaqqol platform allows the recovery of funds in specific cases tied to when the cancellation request is submitted. The regulations provide for free cancellation and a full refund of the fees if you cancel the booking from within the app at least two hours before the scheduled appointment time.
To submit a refund request, follow these steps within the app:
- Open the "My Bookings" menu in the Tanaqqol or Nusuk app.
- Select the cart booking you wish to cancel and tap on the transaction details.
- Tap the "Cancel Booking" button and select the reason for the cancellation (a health circumstance, a change of time, or a booking error).
- Confirm the cancellation and wait for a text notification to arrive confirming that the request has been accepted.
Refunded amounts are automatically returned to the same bank account or "mada" card used for payment within 7 to 14 business days. The platform definitively refuses to return the fees if the scheduled appointment time passes without a prior cancellation, or if the QR Code was scanned on the reading devices at the station gate; the booking is deemed fulfilled once the code is passed over the optical gate.
Complaint Handling Channels and Pending Payment Reports
If the amount was deducted from your bank account without the booking ticket being issued, or your refund request for the golf cart Tawaf fees was rejected despite cancelling within the permitted time, you need to escalate the complaint through the Authority's direct financial support channels:
- The unified guest care number: call the number
1966(available around the clock within the Kingdom). - Field transport offices: go directly to the field supervision office located at the Shubeikah bridge entrance or the mezzanine office at the start of the Tawaf track. Field supervisors retain the authority to process pending bookings and print replacement tickets after verifying the bank debit transaction.
- Technical support via the app: submit a ticket through the "Help" section, attaching a copy of the bank account statement showing the transaction's reference number (RRN).
Before leaving the courtyards of the Grand Mosque of Makkah, check with the customer service office in Ajyad square if you encounter an on-site financial issue; resolving payment issues on the very day of Umrah is far quicker than following up remotely after the trip has ended.
