The most popular question is how to do a DIY Umrah. Do-it-yourself Umrah is becoming extremely easy and popular. There are so many ways to plan and save when planning an Umrah on your own.
For the past ten years, I have helped over a million readers go for Umrah by understanding the Umrah visa fees and procedures.
In this blog post, I will share with you the best ways to plan your Umrah DIY, save money with the most cost-effective tips, find the best time to go, and much more.
I perform Umrah several times per year thanks to living in Saudi part-time and I keep with all the latest info. So I definitely know what I am writing about!
I performed Umrah the first time I did Umrah on my own for under £300 in 2013. I know crazy!
So when I talk about how to plan the most amazing DIY Umrah, I have a trick or two up my sleeve. No wonder they call me the “Umrah girl”.
Can you Plan Your Own Umrah DIY package?
I have been writing about Umrah for the past 10 years, and yes, you can certainly plan and book your own Umrah package and save thousands on fees for agents.
Planning your own Umrah package, especially for countries that can issue tourist visas and all other types expect Umrah visas to be approximately 30% cheaper than with an agent.
This is, without a doubt, one of the cheapest ways is booking Umrah yourself by planning and organising everything.
Saudi Arabia as a country has started promoting tourism, and in part of this DIY Umrah to attract more people into the country. With millions already coming for pilgrimage, it is the perfect audience to explore other parts of the country as well.
Their 2030 Saudi vision sees them welcoming 30 million tourists into the country and establishing a tourism industry. I can testify that things I really changing.
This Ultimate DIY Umrah guide below is to help you prepare for what to expect in every aspect of the Umrah procedure.
But in short, you can plan and book your own Umrah visa, book your own Umrah hotels and create your own package.
Below I will share with you the steps and how you can save thousands on your Umrah planning journey.
Blog Post Content
#1 In Planning Your Own Umrah Package – Tips & Prices
#2 What Visa Do You Need for Umrah
#3 DIY Umrah and Women Travelling Alone
#4 The Best Flights and Hotels for Umrah Options
#5 Transportation from Jeddah to Makkah and Medinah
#6 Approximate costs of your DIY Umrah
#7 Practical Umrah Tips
#1 In Planning Your Own Umrah Trip Package
Before I start planning an Umrah trip, or any other for that matter, I go through a series of questions and actually plan my whole trip to save as much money as possible. I have a full blog post on this and how / why I do it.
I know the below might sound really simple and silly to you, but you will surprised how many people simply decide one morning they want to go to Umrah and have lost on deals and offers that could have saved them thousands.
Here are the most important questions to ask yourself when planning Umrah alone.
Decide you want to go for Umrah
Deciding you want to go for Umrah and starting to plan the whole Umrah process well in advance can save you hundreds, if not thousands, in pounds. Many people leave it until the last minute.
Then they wonder whether a DIY Umrah package will be cheaper or just booking with an Umrah agent because they don’t have the time to plan it.
If you are planning on going for Umrah, start saving at least six months in advance. Look out for the best promotions on flights and hotels. Hotels and airlines offer discounts of up to 40% every 3-4 months.
I have a FREE Guide you can download here for the best time and how to plan DIY Umrah & save money
What is your budget?
Once you decide you want to go for Umrah at least 3-6 months in advance, you start looking or the package cost. First, however, I always suggest looking at your budget and then the packages.
We have an idea of always increasing the budget depending on the cost of umrah packages we see online.
Here is a rough guide for you to keep in mind if you are planning an Umrah package for 2 people. We do have a full DIY Umrah packages examples for each month for you as well.
- UK Umrah DIY package for a 3 star hotel / budget airline from £500 per person
- UK Umrah DIY package for a 4/5 star hotel with budget airline from £800 per person
- UK Umrah package done yourself of a similar standard to 4/5star and airline from £1000 per person.
- For US Umrah packages, I would add around $500 more per person for each package and this is for the flights.
On average, my readers save 25% to 40% doing a DIY Umrah package than booking with an Umrah agent or planning in advance.
How many people are you travelling with and their ages
It is essential to know the people you will be travelling with and their requirements. For example, how many children do you have? Their ages and their mobility.
The same applies to elderly parents who might not be able to walk far to get to Haram. So you might have to think about upping your hotel budget for convenience for them.
Also very important when you are looking at DIY Umrah or Agent packages because agents charge for children even if they share a bed.
We’ll talk about hotels further below, but many hotels nowadays accommodate up to 4 or 5 people in a room, which is especially good for families.
Note that there will be a surcharge in most cases, but it will be cheaper than standard Umrah packages, when splitting the cost, it will be less.
- The Best Tips for Umrah with Kids From Over 7 Umrah
- The Best Tips for Umrah with a baby from an experienced mum
Which Airport should you land in Saudi Arabia
It is important to know whether you will be visiting Medinah and Mekkah when doing Umrah. Sometimes, especially during busy periods, it is better to actually fly into Medina.
Medinah airport is smaller and closer to Masjid Al Nabawi; it usually takes less than 30 minutes to get from the airport to the Masjid, making it a more accessible destination to arrive at first.
If you travel with kids or coming from afar it is also good to get into Medinah because then you can relax prior to going to Makkah.
When are you going to Umrah
It is vital to know when you will be going for Umrah. Umrah during school holidays is much more expensive. Also, Umrah during Ramadan and especially the last 10 nights, can be 20x more than going during the off-peak season.
Now, let’s be clear. Saudi Arabia received 7 million pilgrims last year for Umrah, there is not much of an off-peak season. Low-cost airlines like Wizz Air which now flies cheaply for Umrah also make it busier.
This means the prices of hotels also increase sadly.
Your best option is to go a week or two after busy periods like Christmas, Ramadan and school holidays. Also just after Hajj opens it is a little less busy.
Note: You cannot do Hajj & Saudi closes Makkah
Do you have loyalty miles or points?
If you live in the USA, the UK, or any other country that helps you accumulate loyalty programs, you should consider saving money with them.
I have saved over $100,000 using loyalty points for Umrah and stayed in hotels costing over $4000 for only $400 in Ramadan.
Loyalty points for hotels and flights for Umrah can really save you thousands, especially during peak season, so you are better learning how to use them and planning your holidays with them in mind.
I have a full book on how to use loyalty points and save yourself over 70% on hotels
If you want to find out how to collect miles and points for Umrah and Dream Destination travels check out my Loyalty Points guide.
All international hotel chains are located in Makkah and Medinah. You can earn points throughout the year and redeem them when on Umrah. This is my strategy, and it saves me thousands every time.
This, of course, is the same for international airlines since pretty much every airline flies into Jeddah airport for Umrah.
Here are some more articles you can read:
- American Express Gold Card: Why I still believe it is the best card for Muslims who want to travel
- My travel credit card strategy
- Umrah Price comparison packages: Agents or DIY
- Best Airport for Arrival and Departure During Umrah
#2 What Visa Do You Need for Umrah
In the past three years, Saudi Arabia has done so much in terms of opening the country to tourists and Umrah pilgrims. It is now so easy to go for Umrah on your own that sometimes my brain still catches up.
From when I had to beg agents to give me an Umrah visa to now 10 years on it is as easy as an online application or visa on arrival.
The Types of visas you can issue for Saudi Arabia
1. Tourist Visa
This visa allows you to go on tourism and also perform Umrah. The visa is provided for 1 year and you can stay in the country for 90 days maximum. You can enter and exit as many times as you want. This tourist visa is open to several countries around the world and also those holding US, UK and Schengen visas. You can also issue this visa on arrival at immigration.
- You can read all about the Saudi Tourist visa here.
2. Visa Waiver for UK citizens
This is a new type of visa currently open to UK citizens and works similar to the US ESTA. It is a permission to enter the country, it is only for one-time entrance, and you can stay up to 6 months. This visa also allows you to perform Umrah.
3. Transit Visa with Saudi Airlines
The transit visa allows you to perform Umrah and stay in the country for 3 days approximately. You must book your flights with Saudia and leave with the same airline. You can only issue this at the time of booking your flight. You can also get a free night’s accommodation in some cases.
4. Umrah Visa
If you are a passport holder of a country that cannot issue any of the above visas for Saudi Arabia to do Umrah, then you will need to go to an agent and get an Umrah visa. They have some more restrictions than the above types and can only be issued by agents in your home country.
More information on the Umrah visa
With all the above visas for Saudi Arabia which pretty much also allow you to perform Umrah, it has become very easy for so many countries to plan a DIY Umrah without the need for agents.
#3 DIY Umrah and Women Travelling Alone
Solo Muslim Women can go for Umrah on their own without the need for a Mahram. By the law of the country, there is no restriction on what gender can issue a visa, hence, even solo female travellers can go.
If you are a Muslim woman who is happy and travels alone, this is an option for you as well.
This is the law of the land, and I know Islam has some restrictions, so make sure you are comfortable and speak with your local imam. I am not a scholar.
I have a full Youtube video of what Umrah solo looks like, even as a first-timer.
Many women have reported to go for Umrah alone and have been safe while enjoying it.
#4 The Best Flights and Hotels for Umrah Options
How to Find the Best Deals on Flights and Hotels when doing a DIY Umrah
I always start my search for flights with Skyscanner because you can check out flights with dates and months as well. Some flexibility can really save you money,
Wizz Air offers some of the cheapest flights to Saudi Arabia from several European cities if you are happy to go with a budget airline and are okay with paying extra for luggage. I mean, who can beat £100 return to Saudi?
Every major international airline flies to Jeddah, and some fly to Medinah as well. If you are looking for prices from London to Jeddah, they are about £500 direct with Saudia via Gatwick off-peak, and you can find them cheaper if you take a stopover for around £350.
Flights from the US for Umrah have also significantly decreased, and I have seen options to fly for less than $800 return trip from New York to Jeddah.
We have package examples with flights from the US for Umrah as well as from the UK.
Here are my favourite options for getting cheap flights.
Booking flights during sales: Airlines have about 3-4 deals per year where you can find cheaper options, even by 40% from anywhere in the world. One big mistake people make is booking flights when they think they have to instead of looking at the time period.
For example, deciding to go for Umrah in April, people will start booking flights in February or March. Had they decided to go in April, they could have booked over the Christmas sale and saved some cash on them.
These sales usually occur during December, April, June, and September. They have validity for up to one year of travel in some cases, making it easy to plan your trips around the cheapest dates.
I always find flights with Skyscanner as I love their monthly view and their yearly cheap flight option.
Know when to book your flights: If you have missed the sale period (oops!) you can still find a decent deal by monitoring your flights with Google Flights. I love this as I can see how volatile the flight prices are and how much they fluctuate.
I have found some good deals for four to six weeks for international travel and even two weeks before travel. This, of course, is harder if you are not a risk-taker as prices can increase.
People will usually book flights two months before travel, so you will start looking at routes at the same time as thousands of others, making the prices go up. If you wait for the surge in traffic and you monitor via Google Flights, you can avoid this.
Use low-cost airlines and split tickets: Sometimes, not booking the entire ticket for Jeddah can save you money. If you are going during peak times, flights can be expensive from London to Jeddah.
Look for options to book an open-jaw ticket to Medina and return from Jeddah. Many times this will save you money and hassle.
Plus, now, with the Haramain train, it is easier and more convenient to travel between Makkah and Medinah.
Other times, I love using low-cost airlines that have become very handy. You can easily combine a holiday with them.
For example, a flight from London to Jeddah with Pegasus Airlines can be cheaper to split in half (London-Istanbul, Istanbul – Jeddah) than booking into one flight. This is because of demand and supply.
My all-time favourite tip is taking advantage of WizzAir’s cheap flights from Europe to Dammam and then from Dammam to Jeddah and Medinah with any of the many airlines. This way, I have saved hundreds, and also I have combined a post-Umrah holiday along the way.
Loyalty Programs: If you collect miles, you can definitely use them for flights to Makkah and Medinah from anywhere in the world. Personally, I prefer to use cash if I am not redeeming for business class. Still, you could also upgrade your travel experience from economy to business.
My best tip for the cheapest option of redeeming, especially if you have a large family, is to fly to a nearby country and then redeem for a business class to Jeddah. I love it when I end up first out of the plane to immigration and finish before the crowd!
Travel Hack your Umrah and save up to 70% on 5-star hotels in Makkah and Medinah.
The updated 2.0 version of this book can save you thousands every year on your Umrah and general travels.
Best Hotel Options in Makkah and Medina
Makkah is opening so many new hotels that it makes me excited to go and review them all. My poor husband was so lovely last time since we went for a week, and we changed three different hotels so that I could review them.
Five-star hotels in Makkah are becoming cheaper now because there are more and more properties opening up competition, especially in non-peak season, bringing the prices down.
One question I get asked a lot about is where should you stay in Makkah. Which side is better traffic-wise and for the elderly and children while on Umrah?
I have a full Youtube visa on this if you want to listen
A few years back, the Clock Tower was the place to be; I personally never liked it as the traffic to the mall, and the hotels always made it very busy.
The lifts to the hotels took ages, and people outside selling things made it even harder to move. Plus, the Haram construction on that site didn’t help the situation.
However, if you want the best views of Haram, this is the place to be!
I find that hotel options are personal preference, and you will find many comments under my video about people siding with or against me. 🙂
The best hotels for young children and the elderly
The Intercontinental Dar Al Tawhid and the now Makkah Hotel and Towers (old Hilton Hotel and Towers). When we stayed in both properties, we were in the Haram in 5 minutes, and because it is in the courtyard, it is easy to move with a stroller or a wheelchair.
My other preference, which I will use with my family, is the new Jabal Omar hotels, such as the Conrad Makkah, Hyatt Makkah, and Hilton Convention Makkah. You do have to cross the road for them, but it’s not a big issue, and you still get to Haram in about 5-7 minutes.
I like these hotels because they are newer and offer the 4-star standard of European and American hotels. If you are paying money for convenience, you might as well pay for the comfort of a new hotel.
Also, many new hotels are further away but are excellent value for money. Holiday Inn Azziziya is a new property; Ibis Makkah can be found for really cheap in Ramadan here and several others. Check out the post on budget hotels here.
These hotels can be found for as little as £40 per night! Yes, you do need to take their shuttle or order an Uber, but if you are on a budget and don’t mind the distance, you honestly can’t go wrong.
I like using International chains because I feel safer and that I have more rights as a customer.
If I go and my stay is not as expected (don’t make false complaints), I can contact their International office and make an official complaint.
How many times have I had people email me and say their Makkah and Medinah hotels were horrible or they lost money and nothing could be done.
Hotel Sales in Makkah and Medinah
Same to airlines, hotels have sales every few months. Ensure you check in advance (see above when planning) which hotel you would like to stay in the sign-up for their newsletter.
One hotel starts its sale; you can expect that every other one will follow in a week or so. Again, competition in the travel industry is fierce.
Most of these sales have either non-refundable options or semi-flex, so make sure you are happy with your dates before booking, as you might not be able to cancel them.
During a sale, you can find hotels in Makkah and Medina for as little as £70 per night at Hilton and around £90 for Hyatt. The majority of their rooms can also accommodate families with children, up to 4-5 adults or kids.
The best advice on this is to actually call the hotel and make sure you ask them if they charge for children because sometimes the online system is rigid.
Loyalty points and free nights for Umrah
Again, I rarely book via third-party sites unless it is one stay in a place with a significant discount. This is because my travel strategy includes staying in hotel chains to receive points that I can redeem for expensive properties worldwide.
Like Makkah during Ramadan. This is how we saved over £2000 per night during our Hyatt stay in the last 10 nights of Ramadan for several years now in a row. I used all my points with Hyatt to stay there and save.
Yes, this strategy takes years sometimes and persistence, but I prefer spending a little extra for benefits like complimentary breakfast, upgrades, and lounge access than saving £20 a room. Because I know I can receive good value for my spending.
I always make sure my money goes further and return double of what I spent. I lived 8 months in hotels to earn points.
If you want to find out more about using points for hotel stays and saving, you can check my Umrah Book for more information.
Travel Hack your Umrah and save up to 70% on 5-star hotels in Makkah and Medinah.
The updated 2.0 version of this book can save you thousands every year on your Umrah and general travels.
Cashback on Hotels
If you don’t want to bother with points but still want to save money on your hotel stays I highly recommend using cashback websites like Topcashback to earn throughout the year and on your Makkah hotel of course.
Many third-party online agents like Expedia, Hotels.com and Booking.com have loyalty programs where you can save money and combine cashback with their offers.
When to Book Your Hotels for Umrah
I usually book my hotels during the sale period with semi-flex terms even if it is more expensive. I like the flexibility. It can be about 8 months in advance.
If, for some reason, the rates go down and it’s closer to time the time of my Umrah, I will cancel them and rebook the cheaper rate.
If you book on loyalty points, you are usually more flexible than booking non-refundable rates. So if you need to cancel, you can, and you can still show them to the agent with no problem.
Overall I book my hotels for Umrah the same way I would book them for any other trip, just double-checking the prices and cancellation terms before I book, as some hotels in Ramadan are non-refundable.
I will book flights when the best price appears, and in most cases, they are non-refundable, so they will be confirmed flights.
Here are some posts to read on the topic:
- Amex Gold: The Best card for Muslims to travel without interest
- Best Airport for Arrival and Departure During Umrah
- Oman Air Business Class Redemption with Etihad Miles Jeddah to Muscat, the best deal ever!
#5 Transportation from Jeddah to Makkah and Medinah
I have an extensive Umrah transportation guide that can help you with the best options and prices available for every transport option for Umrah and for travel in Saudi Arabia.
But in short, I would like also to cover them here and make it easier for you.
Jeddah to Makkah: The best way to arrive in Makkah from Jeddah is to take a taxi from the airport. You can negotiate with a driver once you exit the airport or order an Uber or Careem (the Middle Eastern version of Uber). As a techno girl, I prefer the latter options. The cost is approximately £50.
Makkah to Medina: By far, the best option to travel between the Holy cities is to use the Haramain Train.
It is easy, convenient and comfortable, plus it takes the least time. I don’t enjoy Saudi driving, so I try to avoid it as much as possible. You can book the train online, which costs £20 per person. Read more about it here.
Taxi is another option, and there are plenty of choices of taxis outside the Conrad and Hyatt hotels. If you are a large family they usually make sense between the two cities or to Jeddah. You can negotiate with them the rate.
Ziara trips around Makkah, and you can do an hourly rate as well with taxis outside your hotel. Start low and find a price you are comfortable with, but around £20-30 is good for a few hours. You can also get Uber for this as well.
In Medinah, they have a tour bus that can get you around to Ziara, and it’s a hop-on and off so you can get off and enjoy the sights before getting the next one. It is the same company that runs the ones in other cities around the world.
Medinah to Jeddah: If your flight departs from Jeddah, you can take the train to Jeddah as the train stops just outside terminal 1 KAIA in Jeddah.
TIP: I suggest arriving in Medinah and then departing from Jeddah. Medinah airport is smaller, so easier to get out of, and also, the train now makes it easy to reach Jeddah. On departure, Jeddah is closer and more convenient.
Locations for Trains in Makkah and Medinah:
- Haramain Train location in Makkah: Al Rasaifah, Ar Rusayfah, Makkah 24232, Saudi Arabia
- SAPTCO bus stop in Medinah: King Faisal Rd, Bani Khidrah, Crowne Plaza Hotel، Medina 42311, Saudi Arabia
- Haramain Train location in Medinah: Al Hadra, Medina 42368 8183, Saudi Arabia
Make sure you read our full Umrah transportation guide
#6 Approximate costs of your DIY Umrah
We have created a Do-It-Yourself Umrah with examples you can click on and book on your own. This will help you realise the cost of doing Umrah yourself.
Read the post here:
As I have mentioned above, I price and plan Umrah now in a similar way as I do our other holidays.
I know the timing of when I have to send my Umrah visa (3-4 weeks in advance), and then I book my hotels and flights when I find the best deals.
I would suggest an average price for a week-long DIY Umrah is about £800 per person in a 4 or 5-star hotel. Depending on your location and preferences.
You can see below some estimated costs, but note these are at the time of writing, so for accuracy, please click the links for individual hotels.
- Tourist visa fee cost: £120 / $150
- Flights from New York to Jeddah for Umrah: $950 (one stopover in Istanbul)
- Flights from London to Jeddah for Umrah: £550 (direct off peak) £200 (budget airline)
Hotels in Makkah for five nights
Options for 4-5 star hotels with closest to Haram first
- Makkah Towers (0.3 miles) £600 / $780 for two people
- Hyatt Makkah Jabal Omar (0.3 miles) £600 / $780 for two people
- Jumeirah Hotel Makkah (0.3miles) £800 /$1000 for two people
- Hilton Convention hotel (0.4 miles) £530 / $650 for two people
- Sheraton Makkah Jabal Al Kaaba Hotel (0.5 miles) £330 / $430 for two people
- M Hotel Makkah by Millennium (1.6 miles) £190 / $250 for two people
Options for 3-star hotels closest to Haram First
- Voco Makkah (1.1 miles) £250/ $400 for two people
- Ibis Styles Makkah (1.9 miles) £116 / $150 for two people
- Three Points Musali Makkah (2.3 miles) £185 / $240 for two people
- Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseem (4.2miles) £145 / $200 for two people
Hotels in Medinah for five nights
- Dar Al Iman Intercontinental (0.1 miles) £600/ $850
- Pullman Zamzam Madina (0.2 miles) £375 / $490
- Anwar Al Madinah Movenpick Hotel (0.3 miles) £600 / $780
- Taiba Hotel Madinah (0.3 miles) £410 / $540
- Crowne Plaza Madinah (0.3 miles) £334 / $ 420
- InterContinental Dar Al Hijra Madinah (0.5 miles) £355 / $460
Transportation from Jeddah to Makkah: £40 / $55 for two people on taxi or Uber
Transportation from Makkah to Medinah: £70 / $90 for two people on the Haramain train (add double for return if needed)
Ziara tours depend on you and if you would like them but around £50 / $65 for two people
Food also depends on your personal circumstances, we do spend about £10- £20 ($25) per day per person in the food court but I also buy from the supermarket and make sandwiches for afternoon snacks and fruits.
In total performing, a Do-it-Yourself Umrah comes much cheaper than buying an Umrah package as you can make it as expensive or inexpensive as you wish. Plus, if you use some of the tips above, it can be very cost-effective.
Here are some posts to read on the topic:
#7 Practical Umrah Tips
Nusuk App for Umrah
You will need to book a Rawdah slot for Medinah. They are very strict and won’t let you go otherwise. The slots open every hour, and you should check multiple times per day. They usually release availability about four weeks prior, but slots are booked very fast. I have a reel on Instagram with great tips for you.
If you have young kids a usually you don’t need separate appointment and those with wheelchair only need for the wheelchair person. This makes it easier as sometimes families cannot go togehter. I would also advice for you to go about 1 hour before your slot. There is a lot of waiting.
You need to have your visa number in order to register. You can do this on an international SIM as well.
For Umrah slots, you really don’t need it; they don’t check, but for men in Ihram, there have been rumours of being stopped and asked because usually only those on Umrah perform tawaf in the Kabah area. Many will wear ihram just for this. Women don’t get checked as you wear your abaya. 🙂
International Currency Using Credit Cards in Saudi for Umrah
You might be wondering what you should use for currency and whether it is better to exchange it prior to arriving from Umrah in, Saudi. Personally, I use Revolut for pretty much all my international transactions within a country as they don’t have foreign exchange fees for SAR.
Revolut works great for pretty much any country that is visiting Saudi and doesn’t have free foreign exchange fees. I will also take my cash out of Revolut. I do have the free plan, so I think it is around £200 cash per month I can use. I use the cash for a Taxi for Ziara and also a charity in Haram.
If you are in the UK you also have the option for Monzo bank etc. Personally I stick with Revolut and I just transfer the amounts needed for my small shopping expenses like supermarket, gift shops etc.
,For big purchases like hotels and flights I use my American Express card due to consumer protections. ,
If you are in the US many banks waive the transaction fees and give you extra points like Chase or Amex so you might better off changing to those providers for your trip.
If you are new to Revolut you can use my referral link for extra credit.
Zamzam water
One of the frequent questions is about ZamZam water and how you can take it. You have to buy it from the airport, though, so it is sealed and packed and ready for transportation.
I think it was about 20SAR for the 5 lit ones, and you buy it from the kiosk outside next to departures at Jeddah & Medinah airport.
Suppose you are staying longer in Saudi Arabia as a tourist. In that case, you can also buy Zam Zam water from major supermarkets in the country.
If you are on a split ticket, you will have to put water into your suitcase, and it will be from your luggage allowance. And you risk transferring to another country and being taken away on split tickets. Split tickets are those booked like budget airlines or those with two separate bookings.
You can take a few bottles 0.5 lt of ZamZam in your suitcase, but make sure they don’t leak because they will be removed. So seal them properly. This will also count towards your baggage allowance.
Mobile Phone SIM Umrah
If you don’t have International data for your phone, you can buy a local sim card; it costs £20 / $30 and comes with a local number and data.
They have tourist SIM cards valid for a few weeks. You will need your passport to get them, and the Mobily office in the Jabal Omar development has excellent customer service.
You can also buy them just after you exit the luggage area at the airport.
I also use an E-SIM provider called Holafly, which I can buy before entering the country. They are super easy to install and use and I have done so in many countries. You can use my referral link for 5% off your next e-sim
Inside the Haram
Big cameras are not allowed in Haram, and your bags will be searched, but you can take a small backpack for your shoes, prayer mat and food for kids. You can have your mobile and take photos, though.
Also, I would recommend you bring a bag for your shoes as well as a prayer mat. I have linked several on my Amazon account for ease for Hajj & Umrah products I use.
Wheelchair for Elderly
For children and the elderly, there are free wheelchairs you can use to transport them around so they don’t walk. You can also hire one of the guys to help with doing tawaf and Sa’i.
There are also electric scooters that you can rent to perform Tawaf and Sa’i this way.
Pram in the Haram
You can take your baby pram to Haram without a problem when you go for Umrah or prayers. You will have to use the ramps on each side of the mosque, and it takes you on the second mataf.
You can check this post here:
Are you wondering the best time to book Umrah & save money?
I have created an 18-page guide to help you plan an Umrah at the best time. Sharing tips and tricks in one place to save you time & of course, money.
Conclusion
I love planning and organising my own Umrah trip package. It is easy and much cheaper. It allows me to enjoy what I value most: prayer in the Haram without feeling pressure and also flexibility in my dates.
I hope this ultimate guide on how to plan a DIY Umrah yourself will give you the confidence to try it for yourself if you haven’t done it already.
If you have more tips for Muslim pilgrims or want to share your experiences, please do so below.
May Allah invite us to his house soon because no matter how much planning, we can’t go if we don’t have the invitation.
Check out my book as well as the many articles with helpful information on Umrah we have on the website.
Travel Hack your Umrah and save up to 70% on 5-star hotels in Makkah and Medinah.
The updated 2.0 version of this book can save you thousands every year on your Umrah and general travels.
