Plan your umrah

Plan your Umrah – Short guide to DIY umrah

Assalamu Aalaikum. Peace be upon you. This article is a short guide on how to plan your Umrah.

The first step of performing Umrah is to plan it. how are you going to perform it? If you have never performed Umrah before, don’t worry. We are here to help you.

How to plan your Umrah? There are a few factors to consider before you plan.

 Are you going to visit Madinah?

First, you should decide whether you are going to visit Madinah al Munawwarah. IF yes, is it going to be before or after your Umrah. These factors will influence the length of your stay.

 Why should you visit Madinah?

Shortest Umrah you could perform is in three days. How to perform Umrah in three days?

I planned my Umrah. Alhamdulillah, it was successful.

Plan your Umrah - these are the contents of your plan.

1. The Niyyat ( the intention to perform an Umrah).
2. Your budget of the trip.
3. Length of the stay.
4. Visa.
5. Flight bookings.
6. Mobile package.
7. Airport to your hotel.
8. Performing Umrah.
9. Preforming another Umrah.
10. What are the places we are planning to see?
11. Taking Zamzam water home.
12. Returning home

First obviously is the Niyyat. We must always have good Niyyat in everything we do. First keep a Niyyat that you intend to perform an Umrah. Pray to Allah to help you and guide you throughout this journey. If you have already performed Umrah, have an intention for hajj and Umrah again. May Allah accept our Umrah and all our good deeds. May Allah forgive our sins. Say amen. 

Prepare a Budget for your trip

Next is to work a plan and achieve it. So prepare a budget for your Umrah. Read this guide on How to save money for your Umrah?

While we will cover all the topics in full details, I will give you a brief idea on each item.

The budget of your Umrah - The Vital part of Plan your Umrah

Prepare a Budget for your trip

Budget is significant. There are so many Umrah agents are there with a qualified imam (Islamic scholar) to guide you and take care of your Umrah from day one till your return. They will get you a visa, flight tickets, transportation, accommodation and food in Mecca (Makkah) and Madinah. They will guide you to perform Umrah by leading you from the front.

But these Umrah packages can be slightly expensive or uncomfortable since you have share rooms. The dates cant be flexible since its already pre-determined by the agent for the whole group.

How to budget your trip?

Length of your Stay

Umrah can be performed within 8 hours. But you need to travel to Mecca. There is no airport in Mecca. The closest airport to Mecca is in Jeddah. Jeddah international airport is around 2 hours travel from Mecca. Then the immigration and customs procedures might take an hour or so.

So at least a minimum of 48 hours required to perform an Umrah. Forty-eight hours from the time you touch down in Jeddah.

Though i don’t recommend a 48hour Umrah, if you want to perform one Umrah, you don’t enough time it’s okay. Allah knows what is inside our hearts. For three up to 10 days do check our Umrah itinerary... 

How to perform Umrah in two days?

 VISA to perform Umrah

Umrah VISA is a special visa issued by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. It is valid for 30 days from date of issue. We will cover this topic in detail.

 These are the requirements to apply for your visa

1.  your passport must be valid for at least six months.
2. If you don’t have an Arab name, you might need to get a letter from the local Masjid to prove that you are a Muslim.
3. You must get an Umrah Vaccination and have a certificate of it. It should have been done in not less than 10 days and not more than 3 years.
4. If you are not applying form the country, you must have residency status, or a long-term visa in the country are applying from. This visas or permit must be valid for more than 3 months.
5.  The ID card of from place you Apply.
6.  NOC from the company you are employed.
7. You must give your fingerprint to the embassy. (biometrics)
8. Single ladies are not allowed to travel alone unless they are 45 years and above and travel with an agency with a NOC from a mahram.

Click here to know about Umrah visa in detail.

Booking your Flights

Flight bookings. If you are travelling to Medina, I suggest you use Jeddah and Medina both airports. Arrive in Medina and depart from Jeddah or the other way around. Note Only a few Airlines are allowed to land in Medina. I strongly advise you to take the shortest flight as possible. Especially if you are in the state of Ihram, that means if you are going to land in Jeddah.

Check out my guide to book flight.

Local mobile and data connection

You are going on a pilgrimage leaving all the worldly things. It would be wonderful if you could switch off everything and stay disconnected. But if you need to stay connected with your phone. Do check out what mobile package I should buy. 

Transportation - Airport to hotel and hotel to Airport

It is approximately 102km from Jeddah Airport to Mecca. It takes around 1 hour and 40 mins to reach your hotel. 

How to reach my hotel in Mecca from the airport.? 

It’s not too long ago. Taxi drivers were charging 400 Saudi riyals to reach Mecca, whereas an ideal price is not more than SR150 to SR200. Whatever the case, you must not pay more than SR250. 

There are two terminals at the Jeddah Airport. One being the north terminal and the other is the hajj terminal. Please ensure which terminal your flight is departing from before you leave. Its takes at least 15 to 20 minutes to reach one terminal to another terminal. And another 15 minutes minimum to find out your flight is not departing from that terminal. 

The Saudi government has plans to start a fast train service which connects Jeddah, Mecca and Medina. We will let you know as soon as the services start-up and running. 

You might be travelling from Medina to Mecca for your Umrah. You can get a bus SAPTCO bus at SAR 60, but you need to get to the SAPTCO bus terminal. A 7-seater taxi should not cost you more than 500. If you could get it for 400, you will be lucky. Because share taxi costs you 60 per person maximum. The fair includes only reasonable luggage.

Check out the detailed guide on travelling to and from Madinah.

Performing Umrah

How to perform Umrah? i have written an in-depth article, but i like to cover in brief here. Performing Umrah is very simple, but you have to understand the concept. 

1. Clean yourself physically and spiritually
2. Keep Niyyat
3. Wear ihram
4. Perform tawaf
5. Perform sa’iee
6. Clip off your hair 

How do you perform your second Umrah? 

You need to find your closest Meeqath, which is the Aishah mosque. You go there and have a shower and have your Niyyat. Then perform tawaf and Sa’i then clip your hair. 

There are a few places to visit in Mecca and Medina. I have discussed this in-dept here for Mecca and medina.

The next step, of course, is to depart from Mecca. Do not take Zamzam water from Mecca in gallons if you are travelling by air. Only boxed Zamzam water sold at the airport is allowed to take in an Aircraft. If you are travelling by road, you can take a few more gallons with you.

Finally, make sure you go to the right terminal at Jeddah international airport. There are two terminals in Jeddah international airport. One is the north terminal, and the other is the hajj and Umrah terminal. It’s a 15 minutes distance between two airports. So, arrive early.

It takes around 2 hours to reach the airport from Mecca. Checking closes one hour before departure. So, leave before 4 hours before the flight from your hotel in Mecca.

Above article is a  brief of how your Umrah will be. Please share your Umrah story with us. Click through appropriate topics and read more.

Remember me in your Duas.

• (ﷺ)- (salallahu Alai wasallam)- May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him
• رضي الله عنه (Radhiallahu’ Anhu) - May Allah be pleased with him
• عليه السلام (Alaihi Salam) - Peace be upon him

For business inquiries: myumrahguide@gmail.com

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