Planning Your Umrah

Before you book — the essentials

For British passport holders, there are two common routes into Saudi Arabia for Umrah:

• Tourist e-visa — valid one year, multiple entries, up to 90 days per stay. Muslims may perform Umrah on it (it cannot be used for Hajj). Apply on the official Visit Saudi portal or through the Nusuk app; it usually arrives in 24–72 hours and includes basic health insurance.
• Dedicated Umrah visa — arranged through an approved agent as part of a package (single entry, around 30 days).

Whichever route you take, a few things are required:

• A passport with at least six months validity from your date of travel.
• A valid meningitis ACWY vaccination certificate, dated at least 10 days before you arrive — available from your GP or a travel clinic.
• Register your journey on the Nusuk app and book your Umrah permit there — this is the official Saudi platform, and your visa alone does not grant a permit or a Rawdah slot.
• Since 2025, accommodation must be booked in advance before a dedicated Umrah visa is issued.

Umrah visas pause each year during the Hajj season (the weeks around Dhul-Hijjah) and reopen afterward — check the current dates before planning travel around that time.

A simple checklist

1. Check your passport — six months or more validity remaining.
2. Get the meningitis ACWY vaccination at your GP or a travel clinic, at least 10 days before you fly. Keep the certificate with you.
3. Choose your route — travel independently on the tourist e-visa, or book a package through a Nusuk-authorised agent.
4. Book your accommodation (required before a dedicated Umrah visa).
5. Apply for your visa on Visit Saudi or the Nusuk app — usually granted within 24–72 hours.
6. Set up the Nusuk app, register, and book your Umrah permit and Rawdah slot.
7. Arrange the rest — flights, airport transfers, ihram, and a little Arabic goes a long way.

Where pilgrims often stay

A few well-known hotels near each Haram, grouped by how close they sit — purely to help you picture your options.

For orientation only. These are not recommendations or endorsements — the Lewisham Islamic Centre takes no responsibility for any hotel, agent or provider. Availability, prices and distances change; please verify everything for yourself before booking.

Getting there & around

Most pilgrims from the UK fly into Jeddah (King Abdulaziz International Airport, KAIA) — the traditional gateway, about an hour from Makkah. Some fly directly into Madinah instead.

The best-kept secret is the Haramain High-Speed Railway — the “bullet train.” It links Makkah, Jeddah, the airport and Madinah at up to 300 km/h, and it turns the long, hot road transfer between the two cities into a smooth, air-conditioned ride. A short branch line runs right into Jeddah airport, so you can step off your flight and onto the train.

Honest distances — think in time, not just kilometres

• Jeddah airport → Makkah≈ 90 km · about 1 hour by road, or by Haramain train
• Makkah ↔ Madinah≈ 450 km · about 2½ hours by high-speed train, versus 5–6 hours by road
• Jeddah airport → Haramain traina 3.75 km branch line — board straight from the terminal
• Your hotel → the Haramalways ask in walking minutes, not metres — a “500 m” listing can mean a 20-minute walk through crowds, which matters greatly for elders

Book Haramain train tickets in advance on the official operator’s site, especially in Ramadan and around Hajj when seats sell out.

What to expect on the ground

Umrah itself is a small number of rites, done with presence rather than haste:

• Tawaf — seven circuits around the Ka‘bah.
• Sa‘i — walking seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwah. They sit about 450 metres apart, so the full seven lengths come to roughly 3.15 km — further than most people expect. The walkway (the mas‘a) is now enclosed in marble and air-conditioned, with level access and separate lanes with buggies and wheelchairs for anyone who needs them.
• Then — trimming or shaving the hair to complete the Umrah.

A few honest, practical notes for first-timers:

• Heat — it can pass 45 °C. Carry water, a small umbrella for shade, and footwear you can slip on and off easily.
• Crowds & timing — the hours after Fajr and late at night are calmer; Fridays and Ramadan are the busiest by far.
• Pace yourself — there is no rush. Rest, hydrate, and travel with someone if mobility is a concern.

Learn the rites properly before you travel — the masjid can point you to trusted guides and classes, so you arrive knowing exactly what to do.

A note on Hajj

Hajj is different from Umrah. You cannot arrange it independently — for pilgrims travelling from the UK it must be booked through the officialNusuk Hajj platform or a Nusuk-authorised operator, and places are limited each year. If Hajj is your intention, begin there: