That's the post. I went this summer. I want to return this winter. Children want to plan vacations elsewhere (Alhumdulillah for the ability to), but I just want to go to Makkah again. No where else will I feel whole again. Heart keeps asking Allah for one more time.
Hi, I wanted to ask, my parents have pakistani passports, we applied through KSA Visa for "Visit visa for the purpose of Tourism". They've both been declined and we are in trouble. Any advice? Me and my siblings have all received our ETA because we're british passport holders and if it helps we're also flying on Saudi Airlines.
Hi guys! Need suggestions! My husband and my baby (5 months old) is a Norwegian citizen but I have a Pakistani passport. We are planning Umrah in December Via Rome. I’ve heard rejection of E-visas without any particular reason so should we apply for that and take Wizz air from Rome or fly via Saudi Airlines and get visa on arrival for all of us?
I’m sure my husband and baby won’t have any problem regarding visa but me having Pakistani passport would I have problem on getting VOA while travelling from Rome?
I'm arriving into Jeddah in September for Umrah and want to pick up two physical STC SIM cards at the airport stand on arrival.
The issue is the two-SIM-per-passport limit.
I was last there in April 2026 and already took out two SIMs on my passport (my wife did the same on hers for other family members). So I've already used my allowance.
My questions:
Can the STC stand at Jeddah airport actually cancel/remove the two old SIMs tied to my passport and issue me two fresh ones on the spot?
Or does that only work at a proper STC store in town, not the airport kiosk?
Has anyone dealt with this at Jeddah airport specifically? Just want to know whether I can sort it there and then, or if I'll need to head to an STC shop afterwards. Thanks!
I am a Pakistani passport holder residing in Japan with a valid U.S. B1/B2 visa that I have used twice. However, my passport was not physically stamped in the U.S.; my entries are recorded officially through CBP I-94.
I found several 2025 experiences, including a Pakistani traveler who successfully obtained Saudi Visa on Arrival at Jeddah using his U.S. visa + I-94 without a physical stamp.
However, the Visit Saudi website was updated on 28 June 2026 and now explicitly says the U.S./UK/Schengen visa must have an entry stamp and that “digital entry stamps are not accepted.” IATA/Timatic currently shows the same requirement.
Has anyone successfully used I-94 instead of a physical U.S. entry stamp after June 2026? Or has the rule recently changed?
Salam everyone.
I plan on going for umrah in November iA. When booking a room for 4 adults, the price is reasonable. The moment I add my 2 year old daughter, the price sky rockets by thousands of dollars. What do you all suggest I do? Should I just book for 4 adults. It’s bizarre. Looking for since advice. Jazakallahukhair
Assalamu alaykoum everyone,
I am planning to leave Madinah in 1 week with my family to Jeddah Airport to fly home. We are planning to take the last train (10PM), as our flight is at 3AM. It will be a Tuesday night.
My concern is regarding the luggage. We expect to have 1 extra. 3 persons with 3 large, 3 small, 3 handbags AND an extra small or large luggage depending on the need.
I saw on the subreddits some tips: get late to the train or pay a porter to board your luggage. However, we also took the last train to go to Mecca and we did not see any porter to help board the luggage at the departure from Jeddah Airport (was not an issue because we didn’t have the extra luggage at the time). I was thinking to send one luggage with SPL some days in advance to be safe but I am not sure of the logistics of that.
So my question is: What is the best and safest way to ensure a smooth experience and to get all my luggage on time from Madinah to Jeddah Airport?
Thank you in advance, barrakAllahou fikoum
TLDR: I expect to have 1 extra luggage leaving Madinah at night to Jeddah Airport with the train and not sure what to do, I want the safest option.
I’ve booked Conrad Jabal Omar Makkah for my family and just realised their child policy says children can stay in the room for free, but for meals only children aged 5 and under eat free. Children aged 6–11 are charged 50%.
My son is exactly 6 years old.
Has anyone stayed at this hotel, or a similar hotel in Makkah, with a 6-year-old? Did they actually charge you for the child’s breakfast, or did they just allow the child to eat with the parents?
I already have breakfast included for the adults and would rather not have to pay an extra breakfast charge for a 6-year-old.
Would this likely be an issue at the breakfast restaurant? Any recent experiences would be appreciated.
Asalamu alaykum. I am planning to go for Umrah at the end of December InshAllah. I had a couple of questions regarding obtaining a visa on arrival. I have a 2 hr 50 minute layover in riyadh, which requires a self-transfer. My wife would need a visa on arrival; however, everyone else in my family has their visas. I am reaching out to see if anyone has any insight on if this will be possible to do the transfer and get her visa on arrival within the 2 hr 50 minutes. My parents are also in a wheelchair so that typically delays it by another 20-30 minutes to deboard the plane. I am thinking of not having any checked bag, to save some more time with not needing to get bags. JazakAllah Khair.
thank you all in advance.
Hey Guys,
I'm going to Umrah for the first time next month and I'm really excited for it, I'm gonna be doing it during my transit so the question I have is when should I book the train, my flight lands 19:40, should I book the 20:35 train or the 21:35? Please note that I won't be waiting for luggage and will be alone, so land immigration train with no stops.
Also would appreciate any advice if anyone did Umrah transit before
As salam alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu
To those who have been umrah and more so in the last few years, maybe even this year.
I am going to umrah for the first time with my mum, from the UK.
Did anyone get the vaccination done and was it checked?
I am leaving in the next couple of weeks and will be staying more nights in Makkah than madinah. I have been able to book an appointment for myself for Rawdah however I tried at the same time for my mum, which was around 1am UK time, and I couldn't get any booking for her. Does anyone know how it works for the female appointments? How to obtain one and what the best timing it is to go for females? I booked mine for 11:20am Saudi time .
Does anyone know how it works in terms of doing the umrah? I've heard people say to do the first umrah, remove hair from head, and then leave the city and come back to do more umrah? Is that the procedure of how it works? Will I then need to remove more hair for another umrah?
How does it work in terms of shoes ie The shoes you wear to walk from hotel to haram, can you use those shoes inside Makkah or have to go barefoot?
Where to also obtain SIM cards from? And will we still get access to WhatsApp after? If no WhatsApp, then how else to communicate with each other? I have android, mum has iPhone.
Also, how much zamzam water can we bring back? And dates? Anything that is not permitted? We are going and coming back with Qatar airways
If you're able to give any other recommendations or advice, I would really appreciate it, jazakallah hu khair
Salam folks! I'm 26M, Alhumdulillah. Born and brought up in Makkah, still living here. I'd love to know what your first thoughts or impressions were when you saw the Ka'aba for the very first time honestly, I never got to feel that moment myself. Growing up here, Masjid Al Haram was more like our go to hangout spot. We'd sit on the second floor, nap there, mess around, treat it almost like a picnic spot. It was a completely different experience compared to what most people go through. I'd really like to hear your thoughts on Makkah too. It's changing fast these days, and not always in a good way.
I’m a British passport holder planning to travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.
I understand that UK passport holders can now apply for the new Saudi ETA Visa, which is valid for 2 years.
Do I need to book my hotels before applying for the ETA?
I’m asking because I’m not sure whether the visa application requires details of where I’ll be staying in Saudi Arabia.
Thanks!
salams,
husband and i are going for Umrah soon inshaAllah. we are based in NW, England.
we don’t know much about Umrah, let alone how to perform it. husband is a revert & i didn’t grow up practising.
can anyone recommend a course in person NW area or online where we can learn about how to perform Umrah and everything we need to know for our journey?
jzk khair.
Hi everyone, first time doing Umrah and would appreciate some advice.
I’m a single young male traveling from the US in early November. My current flight has a 55-minute layover in Doha, then I arrive in Jeddah around 8:30 PM.
I’d then head to Makkah and hopefully perform Umrah before Fajr.
I can also switch to a flight with a 6-hour Doha layover, but that would get me to Jeddah around 2 AM, meaning I’d probably reach my hotel around 4 AM and perform Umrah after Fajr.
My concern with the 55-minute layover is changing into Ihram. I’m thinking of wearing the Ihram garments on my second flight from Doha to Jeddah but I’m not sure how that will be.
TL;DR: Would you recommend keeping the 55-minute Doha connection and dealing with Ihram on the plane, or taking the 6-hour layover for a more relaxed journey?
JazakAllah khair!
Salam aleykum
We‘re planning to visit Madina in September. Since I couldn’t find any resources when these slots are available, I wanted to ask you, if you guys knew?
Barakallah fik.
Salam, we’re planning Umrah in January and are looking for a 4 or 5-star hotel in Madinah that’s modern, clean and within easy walking distance of the women’s side and reasonably priced.
Last time we stayed at Dallah Taiba and the location was excellent, but unfortunately the hotel itself was disappointing it was, dirty, dusty, stained furniture and uncomfortable mattresses.
Our agent has suggested Saja Al Madinah, but I’m unsure because reviews seem very mixed. Some say it’s modern and clean, while others say it’s dated. Has anyone stayed there recently and can confirm what it’s actually like?
Would also appreciate recommendations for other clean, modern hotels nearby, ideally reasonably priced and close walking distance to ladies entrance.
JazkAllah 🙂
Edit: has anyone recently stayed in Elaf Taiba, if so how was it? I’m leaning towards that one since it was recently renovated
Salaam,
InsyaAllah next January I will be performing Umrah with my wife, both my in laws and my 1 year old son.
Please enlightened me with the ideas and recommendations of my son as we will bring him wherever we go, including the all Umrah practices which will be performed throughout. Things like when to take turn while performing the tawaf and/or all the ritual, is it best for me as the father to be with my son at all times, how do I go through this whilst ensuring everyone had their best focus on performing the Umrah.
I'm happy to be replying to your feedback in comment.
Thank you.
What's the budget friendly way to travel to madinah for 4 people with 4 hand carry and 2 large suitcases. Does haramain train allow this much baggage? Also would it be cheaper to book careem or a taxi