Questions pilgrims ask

It depends on what matters most to you. Ramadan carries the greatest reward but is extremely crowded. November to February is cooler with moderate crowds. June to August is very hot. Umrah visas are usually paused for several weeks around Hajj.

Yes. The meningococcal (ACWY) vaccine is required for Umrah pilgrims and should be taken at least 10 days before travel. Other requirements change, so check the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah or your Nusuk visa page before you book. Flu and routine vaccines are recommended.

As a rough guide, budget 7,500–10,000 SAR for 10 days excluding flights and visa: mid-range hotels, food, local transport and gifts. Carry some cash for small vendors; cards work almost everywhere else.

Saudi regulations no longer require women to travel with a mahram to obtain an Umrah visa or permit. Scholars differ on the religious ruling of travelling without a mahram, so ask a scholar you trust.

Yes. Holders of the Saudi tourist eVisa may perform Umrah outside the Hajj season, booking a permit in the Nusuk app where required.

The rites take two to four hours depending on crowds: Tawaf 30–60 minutes, Saʿi 45–90 minutes, plus prayer and the haircut. Most pilgrims stay 7–14 days to include Madinah.

Raise your right hand towards it from where you are and say "Bismillah, Allahu Akbar". This is enough. Never push or hurt others to reach it.

Many pilgrims do. Leave the Haram boundary for the nearest miqat for residents of Makkah, usually Masjid Aisha at Tanʿim, enter ihram again and return. Scholars differ on how often this is recommended.

Rebook in the Nusuk app. Arrive within your booked time to avoid being turned away, especially in busy seasons.

Go to your agreed meeting point (choose a numbered gate, not "the clock tower"). If that fails, ask security staff or an information desk. Keep your hotel name and phone number written on you, and share live location before you enter.

Both mosques offer free WiFi and most hotels do too. For data, buy an STC, Mobily or Zain SIM or eSIM at the airport. You need your passport.

Arabic is the official language. English, Urdu and Indonesian are widely understood around the mosques, hotels and shops, and signs are in Arabic and English.

Yes. Keep medicines in their original packaging with a doctor's note or prescription. Some medicines that are legal elsewhere are controlled in Saudi Arabia, so check before you fly.

Yes. Both mosques have large women's sections and entrances, and Rawdah visits in Madinah have separate time slots for women.

Most hotels offer paid laundry, and there are laundries near the hotel districts. Many pilgrims hand-wash ihram in the room.

Yes, at any age. For a child who has not reached puberty, a parent makes the intention on their behalf and helps with the rites.

It is possible but demanding. Stay close to the Haram, use a stroller where allowed, carry water and snacks, and choose quieter hours.

Yes. Every traveller, of any age, needs their own visa, and permits are booked per person in Nusuk.