One of the questions I receive all the time is which airport is better for Umrah? As always there is no straight answer, but that wouldn’t be fun would it?
The answer typically depends on:
1) when you are going
2) how many people are going with you
3) the duration of your trip
4) if you are only visiting Makkah
During busy times such as Ramadan and peak holidays it is best to arrive in Medinah. The airport is smaller and not many airlines fly into Medinah therefore it is less congested. You can be done with immigration and collect your luggage within an hour where in Jeddah it can be 2-3 hours or even longer.
Also if you are travelling with small children it is easier to arrive in the hotel and rest since the distance from Medinah airport to your hotel wouldn’t exceed a 25 min drive. Prices for flights arriving in Medinah and leaving from Jeddah are not too expensive either and it is less hassle compared to the 10 hour return journey by coach
Jeddah airport is a busier airport so queues and delays are more prevalent. I would recommend to aim not to fly into Jeddah if you can. Of course if you cannot avoid it then brace yourself with patience, plenty of it too. 🙂
If you are doing a DIY Umrah option you can manage and find flights that can arrive in Medinah and leave from Jeddah which is closer to Makkah. Today many Umrah tour operators are catching up and I have seen offers for arrivals in Medinah and departure from Jeddah or visa versa.
Leaving from Jeddah is much easier and the airport has more facilities so you can make it a more comfortable stay. During Umrah I have heard of people being sent to the Hajj terminal for arrival or departure which is not ideal since there are no facilities whatsoever there. They even tried to send me there on my last Umrah in Ramadan however the agent changed his mind in the end.
Peak Umrah times are the bank holidays, school holidays and during Ramadan where more people have days off and prefer to visit the holy land for longer.
If you are doing a DIY Umrah from Medinah you can take the SAPTCO coach which are government operated and very comfortable. I vote for the VIP service. You can check a full guide for transportation during Umrah here. The coach stops at the meeqat point for Makkah so you can make your intention for Umrah and change into ihram.
Another option you have and this is less known is arriving in Yanbu which is a city about 220 km from Medinah. Your Umrah visa includes flights in and out of Yanbu as well.
Yanbu has a small airport serviced by low-cost carriers such as Air Arabia, FlyDubai and some larger airlines such as Turkish and Saudi Airlines. Because there are quite a few flight options sometimes they have good prices which can make sense for those doing a DIY Umrah.
In short the best airport for arrival in Saudi Arabia for Umrah really depends on you and your circumstances. However I would advice if you are travelling during peak times December to April and in Ramadan to avoid arriving in Jeddah. Unless you prepare yourself for long delays and possibly arriving or departing from the Hajj terminal. 🙂
Zahraa BEGUM
Wednesday 12th of February 2020
Asalaamualaikum
Please can you advise. My husband and I will be travelling to Saudi on April in Shaa Allaah. We arrive in Jeddah at 2.55 am with a non saudi airline and we booked a domestics flight to Jeddah to Madinah with Saudi airlines However the airline have changed our original departure time from 4.30 to 3.30 am. This only gives is about 30 mins to come off our flight and check on for our domestic flight, we're unsure of we can transfer our luggage over with out having to collect it to take the domestics flight.
We've been told that this isnt enough time ,there isn't anyway to cancel the flight either and rebook. What can be done ?
Qamaram Munira
Saturday 8th of February 2020
Can.someone.please help me with something I am confused about. InshaAllah in 2 weeks.time, me with my husband and 2 kids will be leaving for Umrah. We have a friend living in Jeddah, so we are planning to stay the 1st night with them at their house. The next morning my husband will wear ihram and we Will inshaAllah start for Makkah to perform.umrah. Now my question is, can we do this? Many people says that if u r going for umrah then.you need to wear ihram when the plane passes over meeqat. Really confused about this. Please help.
Muslim Travel Girl
Wednesday 12th of February 2020
Yes you need to wear your ihram from the meeqat point as your intention is Umrah. This is a feeq question so ask you sheikh but from my understanding you cannot go to Jeddah in plain clothes and then put ihram and do Umrah. You will need to wear your ihram.
Chohan
Wednesday 15th of January 2020
Im from islamabad, pakistan. I m planning to go for umra in March. I plan to go to Medina first. But unfortunately i m not finding suitable direct flights to Medina. So i will go to Jeddah, change the aircraft and fly to Medina. My question is :- 1. Since we, from Pakistan land at Umra terminal at jeddah and flights for Medina depart from new Jeddah airport, how to travel from umra terminal to new air port. 2 How much time and fare does it take 3. What are other options to travel to Medina and what is the fare 4. Our luggage, from Islamabad will be booked for jeddah OR Medina