Schools of thought differ. The Shafi’i and Hanbali schools hold Umrah is obligatory once in a lifetime for those able, like Hajj. The Hanafi and Maliki schools consider it a strongly emphasised Sunnah. It can be performed at any time of year, unlike Hajj which is fixed to Dhul-Hijjah.

Can UK citizens get a visa for Umrah?

Yes. UK passport holders can perform Umrah on Saudi Arabia’s tourist eVisa (applied online, usually multiple-entry) or on an Umrah-specific visa arranged through the official Nusuk platform or a licensed agent. Umrah visas pause around the Hajj season each year. Book Rawdah visits in Madinah through the Nusuk app.

How long does Umrah take?

The rites themselves take 3–5 hours once you reach the Masjid al-Haram: tawaf takes 45–90 minutes depending on crowds, sa’i about an hour, and halq a few minutes. Most UK pilgrims book packages of 7–14 nights split between Makkah and Madinah.

🕋 Umrah Guide

How to Perform Umrah

Q: What are the steps of Umrah in order?

Four rites in order: (1) ihram — intention and talbiyah at the miqat; (2) tawaf — seven circuits around the Ka’bah starting at the Black Stone; (3) sa’i — seven lengths between Safa and Marwah; (4) halq or taqsir — shaving or trimming the hair, after which Umrah is complete. Two rak’ahs at Maqam Ibrahim follow tawaf.

Q: What is the reward of Umrah in Ramadan?

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Umrah in Ramadan is equal to Hajj" (Bukhari, Muslim) — meaning its reward, though it does not replace the obligation of Hajj. Ramadan Umrah is therefore the most popular time for UK pilgrims, and also the most crowded and expensive.

Quick Answer

Umrah has four rites in order: ihram (intention and talbiyah at the miqat), tawaf (seven circuits around the Ka'bah from the Black Stone), sa'i (seven lengths between Safa and Marwah), and halq or taqsir (shaving or trimming the hair). The rites take 3–5 hours and can be performed at any time of year.

Last updated 11 August 2026

The complete step-by-step guide for UK pilgrims — the miqat and ihram rules, tawaf, sa'i, plus visas, flights from the UK and the best time to go.

"And complete the Hajj and Umrah for Allah."
— Quran 2:196 (Al-Baqarah)

Before You Leave the UK

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Visa

UK passport holders can use Saudi’s tourist eVisa (online application, usually multiple-entry, Umrah permitted outside the Hajj season) or an Umrah visa via the official Nusuk platform or a licensed agent. Apply at least two weeks ahead and keep digital and paper copies.
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Nusuk app

Saudi’s official pilgrimage app. Use it to book the Rawdah slot in Madinah (essential — walk-ins are turned away) and to check permit requirements at the Haram.
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Vaccinations

Meningococcal ACWY is required for pilgrimage visas — get it at least 10 days before travel and carry the certificate. Seasonal flu and COVID boosters are sensible for crowded rites.
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Flights

Direct flights to Jeddah and Madinah run from London Heathrow, with one-stop options from Manchester, Birmingham and other UK airports. If you land at Jeddah intending Umrah first, be in ihram before you cross the miqat in the air.
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Pack for the rites

Ihram cloths for men (buy in the UK to wear on the plane), unscented toiletries, comfortable slip-on sandals, a small cross-body bag, and a prayer mat. Everything scented — soap, wipes, deodorant — must wait until you exit ihram.
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Money

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but carry some Saudi riyals for small shops and the laundries. ATOL-protected packages from the UK commonly range from around £700–£800 per person off-peak to several times that in Ramadan — always verify the agent’s ATOL licence before paying.

Step 1 — Ihram at the Miqat

The state of consecration that begins Umrah

1
Bathe (ghusl), trim nails, and apply perfume to your body before ihram (never to the garments or after entering ihram).
2
Men wear two white unsewn cloths — the izar around the waist and the rida over the shoulder. Women wear normal modest dress; nothing is prescribed by colour.
3
Pray two rak’ahs, then make the intention: "Labbaika ’umratan" — Here I am for Umrah.
4
Begin the talbiyah and repeat it often until you reach the Ka’bah: Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la sharika laka labbayk, innal-hamda wan-ni’mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.

While in ihram, avoid:

Perfume of any kind · cutting hair or nails · sewn garments or head-covering for men · face-covering (niqab) and gloves for women · hunting · marriage contracts · intimacy and its preliminaries. Breaking these requires an expiation (fidyah) — ask your group\u2019s scholar on the spot rather than guessing.

The Five Miqats — Which One Is Yours?

You must be in ihram before crossing the miqat boundary. Which one applies depends on your route:

Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali) — For those coming via Madinah

The miqat for almost every UK pilgrim who visits Madinah first — about 10 km from the Prophet’s Mosque, and the most common starting point for UK packages.
Al-Juhfah (near Rabigh) — For the Syria / Egypt direction

Closest miqat to the flight path of direct UK–Jeddah flights — enter ihram on the plane before the captain announces it; Jeddah itself is inside the miqat boundary.
Qarn al-Manazil (as-Sayl) — For the Najd / Ta’if direction

Used by those arriving via Ta’if or Riyadh.
Yalamlam — For the Yemen direction

Rarely used by UK pilgrims.
Dhat ’Irq — For the Iraq direction

Rarely used by UK pilgrims.

Flying direct to Jeddah? Change into ihram garments before boarding or mid-flight, and make the intention when the crew announce the miqat (typically 30–45 minutes before landing). Jeddah airport is inside the miqat zone — you cannot enter ihram after landing.

Step 2 — Tawaf Around the Ka'bah

1
Stop the talbiyah when you reach the Masjid al-Haram. Men uncover the right shoulder (idtiba) for the whole tawaf.
2
Begin at the Black Stone corner — raise your hands toward it saying "Bismillahi, Allahu Akbar". Kissing it is Sunnah but touching and pointing suffice; never push through crowds to reach it.
3
Circle the Ka’bah seven times counterclockwise, keeping it on your left. Men walk briskly with short steps (raml) in the first three circuits, normally in the last four.
4
There is no fixed dua per circuit — recite Quran, dhikr and personal dua. Between the Yemeni corner and the Black Stone, the Sunnah is: Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah wa fil-akhirati hasanah wa qina ’adhaban-nar (2:201).
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After the seventh circuit, cover the shoulder and pray two rak’ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim if you can reach it without harming others — anywhere in the mosque counts if not. Then drink Zamzam, standing and facing the qibla.

Step 3 — Sa'i Between Safa and Marwah

1
Approach Safa reciting: "Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the rites of Allah" (2:158). Climb until you can see the Ka’bah, face it and make dua.
2
Walk toward Marwah — this is one length. Men jog between the two green-lit markers; women walk throughout.
3
At Marwah, face the qibla and make dua again — that completes length one of seven.
4
Return to Safa (length two), and continue until you finish at Marwah on the seventh length. Make dua freely throughout — sa’i commemorates Hajar’s search for water for Isma’il, and her trust in Allah.

Step 4 — Halq or Taqsir

🪒 Men

Shaving the whole head (halq) carries the greater reward — the Prophet ﷺ made dua three times for the shavers and once for the trimmers (Bukhari, Muslim). Trimming all over (taqsir) is the valid minimum. Barbers line the exits of the Marwah floor.

✂️ Women

Taqsir only — gather the hair and cut a fingertip's length from the ends. Women never shave. Once the hair is cut, your Umrah is complete and all ihram restrictions lift.

That is Umrah. You may now change into normal clothes, use perfume, and everything ihram restricted is permitted again. Many pilgrims repeat Umrah on behalf of deceased parents — the intention simply names the person: "Labbaika 'umratan 'an [name]".

Visiting Madinah

Almost every UK package includes days in Madinah — not part of Umrah's rites, but unmissable. Pray in the Prophet's Mosque (a prayer there is better than a thousand elsewhere, except the Masjid al-Haram — Bukhari, Muslim), send salam upon the Prophet ﷺ at his grave, and book your Rawdah slot on the Nusuk app — slots open days ahead and go quickly. Quba mosque (two rak'ahs there equal an Umrah in reward — Tirmidhi) and Uhud are the other visits almost every group makes.

Umrah FAQs

What are the steps of Umrah in order?

Ihram at the miqat (intention and talbiyah), tawaf (seven circuits around the Ka’bah from the Black Stone), two rak’ahs at Maqam Ibrahim, sa’i (seven lengths between Safa and Marwah ending at Marwah), then halq or taqsir. The whole sequence takes 3–5 hours.

Is Umrah obligatory?

The Shafi’i and Hanbali schools hold it obligatory once in a lifetime for those able; the Hanafi and Maliki schools consider it a strongly emphasised Sunnah. Unlike Hajj it can be performed at any time of year.

What is the reward of Umrah in Ramadan?

The Prophet ﷺ said "Umrah in Ramadan is equal to Hajj" (Bukhari, Muslim) — in reward, not as a replacement for the Hajj obligation. It is the most popular and most expensive season.

Can women travel for Umrah without a mahram?

Saudi rules now permit women to obtain visas and travel in groups without a mahram, and scholars differ on the religious requirement — many contemporary fatwa bodies permit group travel with safety, while traditional positions require a mahram. Decide with your own scholar before booking.

How much does Umrah cost from the UK?

Packages commonly range from around £700–£800 per person off-peak (sharing, outside school holidays) to several thousand in Ramadan or school holidays with hotels near the Haram. Always book through an ATOL-protected agent and check what meals and transfers are included.

Can I do Umrah more than once on the same trip?

Yes — many pilgrims repeat it for deceased relatives. For a repeat Umrah you re-enter ihram from the nearest boundary outside the Haram; the closest point commonly used is Masjid Aisha (at-Tan’im), a short taxi ride from the mosque.

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