Umrah — the “lesser pilgrimage” — is a set of four simple rites that any Muslim can perform at Makkah’s Masjid al-Haram, in any season, completed in 2–4 hours at the mosque, though most pilgrims allow 1–3 days in the city. Unlike Hajj, Umrah has no fixed dates: you can go at any time except the Hajj blackout period (1 Dhul-Qi’dah to 13 Dhul-Hijjah). The four rites are: Ihram → Tawaf → Sa’i → Halq/Taqsir. And there is a 2026 rule change that affects everything before you arrive: Umrah visas now require a Nusuk-verified booking bundle — which includes pre-booked ground transport (airport transfer + intercity) as a visa condition, not an add-on. That makes planning your ride part of the visa process itself.
This guide is a practical walkthrough: what the rites look like when you are inside the Haram, where the Miqats sit on the road from Jeddah and Madinah, and how the 2026 Nusuk rules change your pre-travel checklist. It is not a fiqh authority — for the complete ritual ruling, see the official umrah.nusuk.sa (for visa/permit/bundle requirements) and the Hajj and Umrah Ministry’s guidelines.
Umrah in 60 seconds
| Key fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | 4 simple rites performed at Makkah’s Masjid al-Haram: Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i, Halq/Taqsir |
| How long at the mosque? | 2–4 hours (typical); most pilgrims stay 1–3 days in Makkah |
| When can I go? | Any time except 1 Dhul-Qi’dah – 13 Dhul-Hijjah (Hajj blackout) |
| Who can go? | Muslims with a valid Umrah visa, Hajj visa, or Saudi tourist eVisa |
| 2026 rule that matters | “No Booking, No Visa” — you need a Nusuk-verified bundle (hotel + pre-booked transport) before the visa is issued |
| Haram entry permit | Free — via Nusuk; nobody may charge for it |
| Health | Meningitis ACWY vaccine mandatory; passport 6+ months validity |
The 4 rites in sequence
1. Ihram — entering the sacred state
Ihram begins at the Miqat — the designated boundary outside Makkah that you cannot cross without entering ihram. Before crossing it, you:
- Perform ghusl (full ritual wash)
- Men: wear two unstitched white sheets (izar + rida), head uncovered; no stitched clothing, no scented products
- Women: ordinary modest dress (any colour), hands and face uncovered
- Make the intention (niyyah) for Umrah
- Recite the Talbiyah — men aloud, women softly — and continue reciting until Tawaf begins
Where are the Miqats?
- JED road: Al-Juhfah (Rabigh) — ~180 km NW of Makkah. This is the route you take from Jeddah airport. Our Jeddah airport → Makkah taxi includes a complimentary Miqat stop on the highway, so you enter ihram at the right place at the right time.
- Madinah road: Dhul-Hulayfah (Abyar Ali) — ~450 km from Makkah
- East: Qarn al-Manazil (Al-Sayl al-Kabeer)
- South: Yalamlam
- North: Dhat Irq
- Flying in: the pilot announces ~30 min before landing; easiest to enter ihram before boarding
2. Tawaf — 7 circuits of the Kaaba
Tawaf is 7 anti-clockwise circuits of the Kaaba, starting and ending at the Black Stone (the NE corner, marked by a green light at the Mataf level).
- Men: perform idtiba (right shoulder bare) and raml (brisk walk) in the first 3 circuits
- After the 7th circuit, pray 2 rak’ah at or near the Maqam Ibrahim (~21 m east of the Kaaba) when space permits
- Drink Zamzam (free, at the well ~20 m east of the Kaaba or from dispensers throughout the mosque)
Practical tips:
- Tawaf takes ~30–60 min when quiet, up to ~2 h at peak
- The upper floors and rooftop have extra Mataf space and are less congested
- Use a tally or phone app to count circuits — losing count in the crowd is the most common first-timer mistake
- You do NOT need to reach the Black Stone to kiss it — a gesture from a distance is valid if the area is crowded
For the full logistics (crowd windows, prayer times, wheelchair/scooter paths): see the Masjid al-Haram guide.
3. Sa’i — 7 trips Safa to Marwah
Sa’i is the re-enactment of Hagar’s search for water — 7 trips between the hills of Safa (where you start) and Marwah (where you end), inside a long air-conditioned corridor at the mosque.
- The corridor is ~450 m one way (total ~3.15 km), taking 30–60 minutes
- Men jog between the green-light pillars (the faster section); women walk at a normal pace
- One trip = Safa → Marwah (counts as 1); Marwah → Safa (counts as 2); and so on until 7
- Reciting duas is recommended but not obligatory — the intention (niyyah) is the core
4. Halq/Taqsir — the release
The final rite: removing the ihram by shaving or trimming the hair.
- Men: shave the head completely (halq — preferred) or evenly trim (taqsir)
- Women: trim ~a fingertip’s length from the ends of the hair (no shaving)
- Once done, everything that was forbidden in ihram becomes permissible again — Umrah is complete
What changed for Umrah in 2026 — the Nusuk rules
The 2026 Umrah season brought the biggest procedural change in years: “No Booking, No Visa.” Here is what that means for your planning:
The visa-bundle requirement (this matters for your transport):
- An Umrah visa is issued ONLY after you have a Nusuk-verified booking bundle consisting of:
- A Nusuk-approved hotel booking
- Pre-booked ground transport (airport transfer + intercity movement)
- A Booking Reference Number tying everything together
- This means pre-booked transport is now a visa requirement — not an upsell, a visa condition. Our Makkah taxi service and the Jeddah airport → Makkah route (with complimentary Miqat stop) are the type of pre-booked transport the Nusuk system expects.
Permit:
- The Nusuk permit to enter Masjid al-Haram for Umrah is free — nobody may charge you for it. Get it on nusuk.sa or the Nusuk mobile app.
Visa window and stay:
- Valid 30 days from issue (reduced from 3 months); you must enter Saudi Arabia within those 30 days
- Stay up to 90 days from entry
- Multiple-entry option since July 2026: one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa, 90 days cumulative, not valid from 1 Dhul-Qi’dah to 13 Dhul-Hijjah (the Hajj blackout period)
Season 1448AH:
- Visa issuance opened 31 May 2026; last visa issue 9 Mar 2027; last entry 23 Mar 2027; all Umrah visa holders must depart by 7 Apr 2027.
eVisa:
- The Saudi tourist eVisa is valid for ~60–66 eligible countries — SAR ~535 ($142), multiple-entry 1 year, up to 90-day stays. Permits Umrah outside the Hajj season.
Health:
- Meningitis ACWY vaccine mandatory for the Umrah visa
- Passport must have 6+ months validity
How do you plan transport for Umrah?
The 2026 Nusuk rule change makes transport planning part of the visa process. You need a pre-booked transfer for the visa application — and one fixed-price booking covers the entire trip.
| Leg | What you need | Book here |
|---|---|---|
| JED Airport → Makkah hotel | ~100 km / 60–90 min; complimentary Miqat stop on the highway at Al-Juhfah (Rabigh) for entering ihram | Jeddah airport → Makkah taxi |
| Hotel → Masjid al-Haram (daily) | Most central hotels are 5–15 min walk; for those further out, a fixed-price ride | Makkah taxi service (hotel→Haram) |
| Makkah → Madinah (if continuing) | ~435 km / 4.5–5 h via the highway; or 2 h by Haramain high-speed rail | Makkah → Madinah taxi · Haramain station |
| Madinah → Makkah (return) | Reverse of the same corridor | Madinah → Makkah taxi |
All transfers are fixed-price, per-vehicle, no surge, no meter — and each booking satisfies the Nusuk “pre-booked ground transport” requirement.
Common first-timer mistakes
- Losing the Tawaf count. The crowd is full-length — use a tasbeeh, a tally, or a phone app. It is the single most common mistake.
- Forcing through the crowd toward the Black Stone. A gesture from a distance when you pass the green-light mark is valid. The push is dangerous and unnecessary.
- Mistaking recommended duas as obligatory. The core of each rite is the intention (niyyah). Extra duas are reward, not a requirement.
- Crossing the Miqat without ihram. If you pass the Miqat without entering the sacred state, you must return to it or pay a penalty (dam). Plan your ihram stop before you reach the boundary — our JED→Makkah route has a complimentary stop for this.
- Skipping the Nusuk transport booking. Since 2026, the visa itself depends on a pre-booked transport bundle. Waiting until you land is not an option.
Best time to perform Umrah
Umrah is valid year-round (excluding the Hajj blackout). The most comfortable months are October–March (cooler weather). The busiest periods are Ramadan (especially the last 10 nights) and the school holiday seasons. For a full breakdown of heat and crowd windows: Makkah weather & best time.
FAQs: Umrah guide
Do I need a visa for Umrah in 2026? Yes — and it requires a Nusuk-verified bundle (hotel + pre-booked transport) before issuance. Tourist eVisa is also valid for Umrah outside Hajj.
Can women perform Umrah without a mahram? Under current Saudi rules, women may perform Umrah without a mahram — but check the latest requirement on nusuk.sa before booking, as this has changed over recent years.
How long does Umrah take at the mosque? 2–4 hours for the full sequence (Tawaf ~30–60 min up to 2 h, Sa’i ~30–60 min, Halq/Taqsir ~15 min). Most pilgrims allow 1–3 days in Makkah.
What is the Nusuk permit and how much does it cost? It is free. Required during the Umrah season to enter the Haram. Get it on nusuk.sa or the app.
Where do I enter ihram if I’m flying into Jeddah? On the highway from Jeddah to Makkah, the Miqat is at Al-Juhfah (Rabigh), ~180 km NW of Makkah. Our transfer includes a complimentary stop there.
What vaccines do I need? Meningitis ACWY vaccine is mandatory. Others may be recommended depending on where you travel from — check the Saudi health requirements.
- Masjid al-Haram logistics: Haram Guide
- Jabal al-Noor visit: Cave of Hira Guide
- Best time for Umrah: Makkah Weather
- Book your Nusuk-compliant Umrah transfer: Makkah taxi service · Jeddah airport → Makkah (Miqat stop) · Makkah → Madinah taxi
Ready to plan the journey itself? Our Umrah taxi service handles Nusuk-compliant airport pickups and the Jeddah-Makkah-Madinah road legs covered above.