HOW TO DO UMRAH

In Islam, it is a voluntary pilgrimage to Makkah, which can take place at any time except during and immediately before and after the Hajj. This differentiates it from the Hajj pilgrimage itself, which is mandatory once in a lifetime for every Muslim who is able to make the journey, and takes place each year between the 8th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and final month in the Hijri calendar, the Islamic calendar.

Since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia changed its visa requirements to offer online or eVisas for Umrah, it has become possible to book Umrah independently. Most of us generally book our travel online and now we can do the same for Umrah. ‘DIY Umrah’ simply means that you book the individual elements yourself i.e. flights, accommodation, transfers, visa and even the Umrah visit.

Due to recent changes and new technology implemented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the accessibility of eVisas online and the availability of an app to book your Umrah appointment, it is no longer necessary to do Umrah through a travel agency or as part of a pre-booked package tour. It is now possible, and in fact very easy, to book and arrange all of the elements of your Umrah independently. This has removed the need to rely on a travel agency or tour operator specialising in Umrah. Thi"s change in the process for booking Umrah has been welcomed by many pilgrims, who in the past, may have found agencies to be more expensive and restrictive.
Online booking platforms such as Halalbooking are an important part of this process, offering a wide choice of accommodation at competitive prices, which is perfect for those who want to book Umrah and are used to the quick and easy process of booking online.
Halalbooking makes it very easy for you to plan a DIY Umrah itinerary. All you need is a little research and understanding of the religious and travel guidelines and you will find it easy and stress-free to plan and book this trip of a lifetime independently.

It is now much easier for visitors from across the world to visit Saudi Arabia for Umrah or Ziyarah as the Kingdom has opened its doors to the world through its new system of tourist and e-Visas.
Depending on your nationality, for your Umrah you may be eligible for:
○ e-Visa
○ e-Visa Waiver
○ Umrah Visa
○ Tourist Visa on arrival

Holders of UK or US passports or US, UK or Schengen business or tourist visas can apply for their visa on arrival in Saudi Arabia at any of its international airports. International visitors from 63 eligible countries can apply for an e-Visa through the fast and easy-to-use online portal, which can be accessed from Nusuk or from the Visit Saudi website. Simply enter your nationality and it will show you which type of visas are available to you for your trip.

The e-Visa or visa on arrival is a one-year, multiple entry visa, allowing tourists to spend up to 90 days in Saudi Arabia. The tourist visa allows you to take part in tourism-related activities such as events, family & relatives visits and leisure trips, as well as allowing Muslim tourists to do Umrah. Alternatively you can apply for an eVisa or visa specifically for Umrah, but this is more expensive and has more limitations.
Tourist visas are valid for 360 days from the date of issue and can be used for visits of up to 90 days.
In August 2023, the Saudi government launched the e-Visa Waiver (EVW) for citizens of the UK and Ireland. It is a single entry visa to Saudi Arabia for a visit of up to six months and is cheaper than a tourist visa. You can apply for an EVW through the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ visa portal. You must have a confirmed flight booking and apply for your EVW from 90 days to 48 hours prior to your trip. Tourist visas are valid for 360 days from the date of issue and can be used for visits of up to 90 days. It is expected that the Saudi government will roll the EVW out to other nationalities in the future.
Although the Umrah visa does still exist, for those who are eligible for other visa types, it appears to have little to recommend it, since it is more expensive and has more restrictions than the other, newer types of tourist visa which are now available. Check which visa types you are eligible for by entering your nationality and you will be given full details of the available options and any fees and restrictions.

Most pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia for Umrah will fly into Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) which is the closest airport to Makkah. However, many of those planning a DIY Umrah choose to visit Madinah as well, in which case it often makes sense to fly into Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport, Medina (MED). It is then quick and easy to take the new Al Haramain express train from Madinah to Makkah. Alternatively, you can do Umrah first and then travel to Madinah afterwards to visit Masjid an Nabawi and the tomb of the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him).

The pillars of Umrah might be conducted within a few hours but, of course, most people choose to spread their worship over time in favour of gaining more Sawābs. Having said that, many pilgrims also choose to spend time in Madinah as well as Makkah, attend daily prayers and/ or Jumuah at the holy mosques and visit the historic sites of the Seerah (Sīrah al-Nabawī). The advantage of putting together your own independent DIY Umrah package is that you can choose how much or how little time you take for your Umrah trip, rather than being tied to a specific group departure, as used to be the case. You also have full flexibility to decide how you spend your time once you arrive in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Advantages of a DIY Umrah are:
○ It can save you a lot of money by arranging everything independently - if you are travelling in a large family group, you may well find that the bigger the group, the bigger the savings.
○ You have more flexibility and are in control of your own itinerary enabling you to work around your personal dates and timings.
○ You can organise your itineraries and include other places of interest to create a religious Ziyarah.
○ Your independent research gives you a better understanding of the process and spiritual benefits of Umrah

Disadvantages of a DIY Umrah are:
○ You will not have a physical tour guide to walk you through every step.
○ You will need to spend some time doing research to prepare and inform yourself.

○ A visa (easy to apply online or on arrival depending on your nationality)
○ A valid passport (valid for at least 6 months unless you have a US passport)
○ Return flights
○ Accommodation in all cities you will visit - draw up a wish list of the features you value to help you choose where to stay by using the Umrah filters on Halalbooking
○ Airport transfers - which can be booked through Halalbooking once you have booked your hotel
○ Transportation between cities if required - easy to arrange independently with the high-speed train service between Makkah and Madinah
○ A budget (knowing how much you are willing or able to spend helps prioritise your needs)

Check online on the Nusuk platform or the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ visa portal (accessible through the Visit Saudi website) to see which visas you are eligible for, according to your nationality.
If you are the holder of a UK or US passport or US, UK or Schengen business or tourist visa, you can apply for your visa on arrival in Saudi Arabia at any of its international airports. International visitors from 63 eligible countries can apply for an e-Visa online. UK and Irish passport-holders can also apply for e-Visa Waiver.
Visa requirements:
○ Passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry to Saudi Arabia (except for US citizens who can enter regardless of remaining validity)
○ Return flight tickets
○ Payment of required fee
○ If you are a Muslim convert, especially if you don’t have a Muslim name, it is recommended to carry signed proof that you are Muslim and have converted to Islam. This could, for example, be a Shahada certificate or similar issued by your local mosque

Most nationalities are now eligible for a tourist eVisa which is also valid for Umrah - visa prices vary according to your nationality, so it’s a good idea to check the official Saudi government site for the latest information.

All Muslims are encouraged to perform Umrah if they are financially and physically able to do so.
In 2021, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that it would allow women to attend and perform Hajj without a mahram, or male guardian. This was confirmed in 2022, when Tawfiq Al Rabiah, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah, said: "A woman can come to the kingdom to perform Umrah without a mahram."
There are different opinions on this issue amongst Islamic scholars, some of whom hold the opinion that women travelling alone to make the pilgrimage is not permissible, whilst others believe that it is permissible for a woman to travel without a mahram, as long as she is accompanied by trustworthy women or other trustworthy companions.

Unlike Hajj, which always takes place during the eighth and twelfth or thirteenth days of the month of Dhul Hijjah, Umrah can be undertaken at any time during the year. Due to visa requirements, it is not possible to undertake Umrah during the Hajj season and usually there is a period of a couple of weeks either side of this when Makkah is not open for Umrah. You can check social media announcements by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to find these exclusion dates.
Other than this, you can choose the best time for you to perform Umrah depending on your priorities. Many find it beneficial to travel during the ‘winter months’ (Nov-Mar) to avoid the summer heat, (which can be 42+ degrees). Others choose quieter times outside the main school holidays so that they can avoid the crowds and pray with ease. Whenever you decide to travel, you need to download the official Nusuk app and use it to book your appointment for Umrah.
When you are planning you may wish to take the following considerations into account:
Most rewarding:
There is a special significance to performing Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan, as the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Performance of Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj” or he said: “Equal to performance of Hajj with me”.
Weather:
For those who would prefer to avoid the heat, the winter months of December, January and February are the coolest in Saudi Arabia with an average high temperature of 30°C.
School holidays:
Muslims who want to complete Umrah as a family should consider travelling during school holidays, although you should bear in mind that flight prices tend to be higher on those dates.
Cheaper months:
The cheapest flight tickets can usually be found in January and February if you plan ahead.

Umrah prices vary considerably, depending on when you travel, the type of accommodation you book and how long you decide to stay for. Umrah from the UK has become much easier to book in recent years and factors such as travelling outside school holidays can help to lower the cost of Umrah. From the UK there is a good choice of flights to Saudi Arabia, which also helps lower Umrah prices.

Umrah consists of 4 main rituals or Umrah steps - here’s your Umrah guide to explain them:

1. Ihram
2. Tawaf
3. Sa’i
4. Taqsir

1. Ihram is the sacramental state, the holistic state of purity that includes mind, heart and body.
   The pilgrim performs the spiritual ablution (Ghusl) before putting on the Ihram clothing. For men, this consists of two plain, unsewn pieces of white cloth. The face and head must not be covered. Umrah clothing for ladies is any loose-fitting headscarf (Khimar) and full hijab (hand and face must be shown) is permissible as long as it is loose and covers everything without hindering movement and is free of adornments. Pilgrims must prepare for Ihram and put on their Ihram clothing before entering the Miqat, which is the official boundary which is approx. 80-410 km around Makkah. Pilgrims who arrive via plane in Jeddah, must enter the state of ihram either before boarding the plane or at the stopover airport. It is also possible to wear the ihram during the flight before approaching Jeddah but this is not advisable and should be avoided. It is recommended to wear the ihram at home before leaving for the house for the airport. Pilgrims who first visit Madinah must wear the ihram before passing Dhul Hulayfah which is located 18 kilometres southwest of Masjid al-Nabawi ﷺ in Madinah and is 410 kilometres (255 miles) north of Makkah. This is the Miqat for the people of Madinah and the people (outside of Madinah) intending to perform Umrah by passing beyond this point coming from the North. It is recommended to wear the ihram before leaving the hotel in Madinah.
   The pilgrim enters Ihram by stating an intention to perform Umrah, saying ‘Labbayka ‘Umratan’. He or she must then recite the Talbiyah, an Umrah dua invoked to submit to the service of God and to humble the ego for Umrah.
   لَبَّيْكَ ٱللَّٰهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ ٱلْحَمْدَ وَٱلنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَٱلْمُلْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
   Meaning: “Here I am [at your service] O Allah, here I am. Here I am [at your service]. You have no partners (other gods). To You alone is due all praise and all excellence, and to You is due all sovereignty. There is no partner to You.”

2. Tawaf meaning to circumambulate the Kaaba, is an act that reflects the small and large movements of life; from the orbit of the sun and moon to the orbit around the nucleus of an atom.
   The next Umrah step is to enter the Masjid al-Haram, the Sacred Mosque and to circulate the Kaaba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction, with the Kaaba on the left.
   Begin and end your tawaf at Hajar al-Aswad (Black stone). Finish at the Maqam al-Ibrahim (the Station of Ibraham (AS)) with two rakah of prayer, followed by drinking one’s fill of water from the well of Zamzam.
   It is recommended that men should jog slowly for the first three tawafs and women should walk normally the whole time.

3. Sa’i is the next ritual of Umrah, meaning "to walk, to strive" and is focused on the walk between the two hills of Mount Safa and Mount Marwah.
   The pilgrim heads to Safa where he or she starts Sa’i towards Marwa. On reaching Marwa, you have completed one shawt (round) which is nearly 450 metres long. Returning to Safa completes the second round and so on, until the seventh round ends at Marwa. Men must perform Sai with their shoulders covered

4. Taqsir/or Tahallul is the act of partially coming out of the state of Ihram by cutting a small portion of hair.