Even though the majority of us would want to book an umrah package that was reasonably priced, in the current competitive market, a high-quality umrah service is necessary. So, pick your agent wisely and decide with the length of your stay in Saudi Arabia in mind. If someone promises you a package that is incredibly cheap, you will pay when you arrive for umrah in another way. You might come to regret the money you saved later.
First things first: while most of us would love to book an umrah packages that were reasonably priced, there is no avoiding a quality umrah service in the competitive market of today. Consequently, if someone gives you a package at an absurdly low price, you will need to pay up the difference when you arrive in Saudi Arabia for umrah. Considering how much time you will have there will help you choose your agent properly. You might come to regret having made a little savings.
Age limit
The Saudi Arabian government has declared that it will raise the maximum age for foreign pilgrims doing Umrah in the nation. Previously, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had a rule that prohibited foreign pilgrims over 50 from receiving a permit to undertake Umrah. Any overseas traveler over the age of 18 is now permitted to go to Saudi Arabia to conduct Umrah under the new regulation. Millions of Muslims visit Saudi Arabia every year to do Umrah, commonly referred to as the “lesser pilgrimage.” This number has dramatically decreased in recent years due to r. Saudi officials have loosened their restrictions and opened their gates to more foreign passengers since coronavirus infections are currently declining.
Vaccine Requirements
While the majority of COVID-19-related restrictions have been eliminated in Saudi Arabia, travelers who want to perform the Umrah must show confirmation of vaccination when they enter the country.
The approved vaccines are:
- Moderna
- Pfizer/BioNTech
- Janssen
- Oxford/AstraZeneca
How much would umrah cost
The starting and finishing sites of the journey determine the cost of the umrah trip. The price of lodging and meals in Makkah City can change based on the hotel and eating alternatives that are chosen. High-end accommodations in Makkah’s Haram neighborhood range in price from SAR 350 to SAR 500 per night. Standard hotel rates start at SAR 150, which is much less. Pilgrims can choose affordable lodging close to the Al Nabawi mosque for less than SAR 100. The majority of hotels provide free breakfast as well as on-site cafes and restaurants for lunch and dinner. Because of this, the precise cost of an Umrah vacation might vary and be controlled to fit different budgets.
Book suites instead of Ordinary rooms
Breakfast and other meals are not required to be reserved in addition to your lodging. If you have some physical stamina and can walk a little, the Haramain neighborhood has a tonne of Pakistani food. You should figure that each dinner will cost about SR per person. In five-star hotels, this may start at SR25 per person per night. Simply check to see if there are any restaurants near your hotel. In and around Haramain, food is especially abundant at Iftar and Sahour during Ramadan. Please consider your family and personal issues before selecting such a path.
Only carry what is required
Not everything can be brought with you when you travel. So, take care to only bring what is required. Create a compact bag and just put necessities in it. Clothes shouldn’t be put inside because they take up more space. The extra items you could need are
Money, among other things, for food sanitizer, cleaners, and lotion
Those who travel frequently experience hunger. It is impossible to have a full dinner while traveling. Simply bring packaged snacks like chips, cookies, fruit cakes, and other small foods. Also, take the individual bottles of moisturizer, shampoo, and hand sanitizer rather than the family-size packs.
Visa Requirements
Find an approved travel agency. To apply for an Umrah visa, you have to contact an approved travel agency in your home country. The travel agent will be in charge of preparing your application and your journey for the Umrah pilgrimage. Most agencies will provide you with several packages at a different price range to choose the one that best suits you. Find approved agents in your country here.
Prepare your documents. Make sure the required documents you need for the application are ready and up-to-date; you are in charge of sending the documents to your travel agency. Afterward, the agency will proceed with the rest of the application.
Register on the Umrah apps. Once you enter the country, you need to download two obligatory apps on your phone:
Tawakkalna app. You have to download and register on Tawakalna after entering the country as it’s mandatory, and it works only in Saudi Arabia. The app will contain all your vaccination records, which you need to display when you enter hotels, restaurants, and the masjids.
Amarna app. With this application, you can get your prayer permits and have them linked to your Tawakalna.
Transport
Makkah is a rather straightforward and easy city to navigate. The city offers a quick and effective public transit system that takes you where you need to go. Here are several options for pilgrims to use while on their Umrah journey.
Bus – Makkah has an efficient network of public buses and privately-owned microbuses that operate around the mosque routes. The fares for both these means of transportation are reasonable.
Taxi – Finding a taxi is easy in Makkah. Taxis are the most convenient and widely used means of transport, but they also have very high fares.
Renting a car is another way to navigate around Makkah as it has a well-maintained road system. Additionally, there are signboards in both Arabic and English at every intersection to make it simple for visitors to go where they’re going.
By Foot – If you are in Makkah for an Umrah pilgrimage, you might want to think about using foot travel to move around the city. By doing this, you’ll be able to avoid clogged streets and roads.
Stay
Finding a good place to stay is the next stage in the Umrah trip planning guide. There are a number of opulent and affordable hotels in Makkah that are close to the Al-haram mosque. The greatest ones include the Swissotel Al Maqam, Hotel Al-Islam, Jabal Omar Hyatt Regency, and Pullman Zamzam. Along with hotels with five stars, there are also inexpensive lodging options. Depending on their budget, pilgrims can select from conventional hotels to serviced apartments.
Preparation for umrah
Making preparations for the spiritual trip is a crucial component of an Umrah plan. A list of tasks to accomplish before Umrah, a necessities packing list, and mental preparation for the journey are all necessary.
The most recent laws pertaining to the continuing COVID-19 outbreak must also be known. During the Umrah journey, pilgrims are required to carry their immunization records with them at all times.
Can I perform Umrah on a Visit Visa
You can, indeed. However, as was already noted, after the Hajj season is over, only those possessing an Umrah permit will be permitted to enter to do Umrah.
After the Hajj season has passed, completing Umrah on a tourist visa does have its benefits, including a longer stay duration, the ability to make repeated entries, and the option to select your own accommodation for Umrah.