r/hajj

Assalamu Alaikum everyone,

I have a few questions for those who performed Hajj in 2026, especially if you can compare your experience with different packages.

I performed Hajj in 2025. I traveled from the U.S. but used my Pakistani passport, and I'm planning to go again in 2027, so I'm trying to decide whether I should stick with the same group or look at other options.

I paid around $8,000 USD (excluding flights). During the Hajj days, we stayed in Aziziyah in an apartment/building rather than a hotel. However, when we went to Madinah, we stayed in very nice 5-star hotels. Overall, I was happy with the package. The Mina camps and other services were good, and I didn't have any major complaints.

One thing I noticed, though, was that many other pilgrims seemed to be staying in the Clock Tower hotels in Makkah. Our group told us that staying in Aziziyah was actually better because transportation to Mina and the other Hajj sites was easier and more efficient. I'm curious whether that's actually true.

For those who stayed in the Clock Tower hotels, how was your experience with transportation during Hajj? Did you find it convenient, or were there long delays getting to and from Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah? And for those who stayed in Aziziyah, would you choose it again, or would you prefer the Clock Tower?

I'd also love to know:

• Did you travel from the U.S. or another country, and which passport did you use (U.S., Pakistani, or another)?
• Which company or group did you travel with?
• Approximately how much did you pay, and did that include flights?
• Where did you stay during the Hajj days?
• If you've experienced both Aziziyah and the Clock Tower, which would you recommend and why?

I'm trying to figure out whether my 2025 package was a good value and whether I should book with the same group again for 2027 or explore other options. JazakAllahu khairan for sharing your experiences!

Aoaa all hope you are all well. Need advice on this I am planning to go for Hajj me and wife inshallah. I am British and Pakistani i have both options to go from uk or Pakistan. Any has experience or knowledge
1- how much it cost for the VIP package?
2-are flights included in the package?
3- which one is convenient?
4- any difference in the level of service if you from uk or Pakistan?
5- min days I can go?
6- anything I missed or general advice?

Jazakallah

Planning to go for Umrah this weekend, in shaa Allah. My last Umrah was about a year ago.
Has anything changed since then that I should know about? Any new rules, tips, or recommendations?

I’ll be flying into Jeddah and traveling to Makkah by train, so I’d also appreciate any advice for the journey , I already know about the transportation options and Miqat, so I’m mainly looking for any recent changes, useful advice, or things you wish you’d known before your trip.

Jazakum Allahu khayran

my parents are coming back from hajj and i would want to welcome them or like give them a gift. any gift in particular which u think they may like?

they'll be coming earlier in the morning so i'm going to prepare a breakfast they like and their favourite coffee.

i was thinking like yk a little skincare thing if u will? like face masks and stuff since they'd be tired?

i can't really think of much. i make cards usually but idk i gave them one before they left. and idk it feels predictable.

Salam. I am planning to go to Hajj 2027(inshAllah if Allah invites me) from Canada. Im interested in hearing which service provider you went with and how the experience was. JazakAllah khair!

Hey Guys
I accidentally swapped the surname and given name in my father's Pakistan Hajj 2027 pre-registration for example (Surname: Ibrahim, Given Name: Khan instead of Surname: Khan, Given Name: Ibrahim). The passport hasn't been issued yet. Has anyone been in this situation? Can it be corrected later or before final Hajj processing?Or i have to call them to get it corrected.

Alhumdullilah completed Hajj this year.

Selected Universal Express from Pakistan as our operator. They came highly recommended and certainly did some things well, but personally failed to meet some basic expectations of a Hajj operator from my standpoint and I would not recommend them for an important journey like Hajj. I don’t want to air their laundry and would strongly suggest looking at other providers if going from Pakistan. I’ve heard good things about Zaka group or Al Khair but of course do your own research. Happy to answer questions or specifics over DM if you are seriously considering them.

Edit- adding some details on our experience based on requests. Disclaimer- edited by Claude.

Reflections on Our Hajj Journey with Universal Express

Alhamdulillah, my wife and I were blessed to complete Hajj this year with Universal Express. We traveled from Canada, though our custom Hajj flights originated out of Karachi. We did Madinah first, then Makkah, on the Platinum 11 package, 9 nights / 10 days. We opted for premium options like a 12 person VIP tent at Mina and 5-star hotels in Madinah and Makkah. I wanted to share an honest reflection for others considering their Hajj provider, since this decision matters so much for such a sacred journey.

The Positives

Pre-trip communication was responsive throughout, with a single point of contact who was easy to reach. A dedicated WhatsApp group for religious topics was a nice touch and helped us feel prepared going in. The buses were comfortable and clean, with an onboard toilet that made the longer transfers much easier. Our Madinah hotel, Dar al Taqwa, was a real highlight, well located and comfortable for the days we spent there. The group Rawdah booking was well-organized and gave us meaningful, extended time in that sacred space, which we were grateful for. Catering at the Mina camp was generous, with good variety and no shortage of food.

Where the Experience Fell Short

The biggest gap for us was the absence of consistent religious guidance during the Manasik days. Beyond a sermon broadcast over speakers at Arafat, there was little hands-on instruction on what duas to recite, the sunnah practices around each ritual, or guidance during tawaf and sa’ee. It felt very self-directed at times when we would have valued a guide walking us through it. This is something other providers build in as a core part of the journey, and it’s worth asking about directly when comparing packages.

Facilities were a recurring challenge. Prayer space was limited at the Mina camp, with prime areas near the entrance used for other purposes like a relaxation lounge for “deluxe” package holders rather than worship. Bathroom conditions, particularly at Arafat, were difficult to manage given the volume of pilgrims, with long lineups and inconsistent upkeep as the day went on. Notably, the Arafat restrooms were operated by the Saudi municipality and shared by multiple Hajj groups and packages; Universal Express did not have their own dedicated facilities.

Arafat itself, arguably the most spiritually significant day of Hajj, was where we felt the experience fell short of expectations. There was a noticeable have/have-not dynamic, with staff attention skewed toward pilgrims who had opted into paid add-ons. Between this, limited seating, and inconsistent staff presence overall, it was harder than it should have been to stay focused on the spiritual purpose of the day.

We also noticed a strong emphasis on optional upgrades and add-ons throughout the trip, from accommodation upsells to transport, which felt at odds with the spiritual focus we were hoping for and is worth budgeting for if you go this route.

Final Thoughts

Hajj is a deeply personal and spiritual journey, and the provider you choose shapes that experience significantly. We’re grateful for the opportunity to perform Hajj and for the aspects of the trip that went well. For future pilgrims, we’d encourage asking detailed questions upfront about religious guidance, facility standards, and what’s truly included before booking with any provider, including Universal Express.

May Allah accept all our Hajj and grant ease to all pilgrims on this journey. 🤲

1. Where did you travel from? London Heathrow
2. Who was your local Saudi provider (ex. Al Rajhi, Ithraa Al Khair, etc). ABG
3. Overall experience/rating: what were the highs and lows. Where was your Mina camp (Al Muaisim, Majar Al Kabsh, etc)? Amazing experience, Muasim, 5/5.
4. Package price, if you're comfortable. Around 9k per person.

So originally wanted to go with a tarbiyah-based hajj program, but dates weren't fitting.

Knew I wanted to go with an ABG package and B1820 fit the bill.

ABG seminar at the hotel near the O2 was amazing, and I got to meet the fellow hujjaj and our guides.

A couple of seminars pre-hajj were a balance between too much information and too little.

Went from LHR T4 and straight to Jeddah. From there, I went on HHR to Madinah.

All very regimented and guided throughout from collecting luggage, dropping it off for the trucks and boarding the HHR.

Madinah hotel was Waqf Outhman and was decent enough. Mufti Menk joined the group here.

Ziyarah and ibadah for the 4 days - Al Baqi, group Rawdah visit, Uhud cemetery, Quba walk.

Travel to Makkah prior to Mina days by HHR; stopped off at the Hilton Convention for a base to perform group and individual umrah, then on to NEMCO! NEMCO was out 'aziziyah' building, but the cabbies said this area was Sheesha? So beware if trying to get fares to this area. Stayed in NEMCO for a couple of nights and then on to Mina!

Muasim camps were very good. No issues with toilets or long waits for food, etc. Obvious times that toilets will be busy- salah, before leaving for arafat, before bed, etc.

Food-wise, there is enough to go around, but some hujjaj do stockpile, and that is an issue, as always, lots of wastage.

Arafat was transferred by coach. Excellent tent with floor-level sofa bed. Napped before Zawaal, then read Zuhr/Asr and heard the khutbah. If you need to get omn with prayer best to leave the tents and find a spot in the shade outside. The group left Arafat late, by which time the kitchen had closed. Some Hujjaj brothers sourced some biryani and bread for the whole group, so they had a bite to eat before leaving for Muzdalifah, and we were one of the last groups to leave.

Muzdalfiah got there just before Fajr, read Maghrib/Isha, and then Fajr. Left promptly after collecting stones. There were coaches for Mina where we freshened up and walked to the Jamaarat. NEMCO is 10 minutes max from the Jamaraat. so stopped off there to nap, sleep and get halq. That evening, I went to Haram to do tawaf ifada. Taxi charge was 100SAR pp, and there were 10 of us in a Staria. Got back via an ABG coach from the Hilton Convention (it did take time and was at the mercy of the cops). It dropped us off a little farther away from our camp in Mina, but our lead guide, Brother Rizwan, and Legend Brother Sohail were quickly available to guide us back to our camp entrance.

We stayed the optional days, and walking back and forth to Jamaraat was not that difficult, and probably credit goes to the ABG Walking groups. Depending on the routes closed by the cops, the distance varied, but it was challenging. However, in Hajj, even 4miles became easy.

On Mina's last day, we transferred by coach, and each day we were careful to take our luggage back so we were as light as possible if we had to walk.

In the days left at NEMCO, we chilled, got to know our fellow Hujjaj, and it was awesome! We had a pre-representation ceremony by Mufti Menk, and throughout, there were Q&A sessions with Mufti Menk and Shaikh Yusri. All very helpful. I don't think anyone felt unguided as Brother Adam had his finger on the pulse and was very responsive to any concerns.

The remainder of the stay was at the Hilton Convention, 10 minutes from the haram. the slope to the Hitlon was a killer are tawaf or umrah though. Rooms were very spacious and comfortable.

Overall, an amazing experience- I can't say anything bad to be honest, as nothing that was controllable went wrong. The transport was government-run, and the accommodation was more than satisfactory.

Now, 3 weeks after Hajj, I miss it like anything! The hujjaj, the sites, the energy and the oneness of the ummah that were apparent during Hajj were irreplaceable.

Please, if you can afford it and are able, please try your best to book for Hajj 1448!

TL;DR: Amazing experience. ABG gives you a sense that they care. Nothing went wrong. Inshallah, Hajj Mabroor.

What was your post hajj experience. Alot of big changes or events can happen after hajj. What was your experience.