Mecca by the Hijri Calendar: Umrah and Hajj

Travel advisory: Washington advises reconsidering travel to Saudi Arabia while regional conflict continues, and Houthi missiles and drones have been aimed at Saudi cities. London’s restrictions cover the Yemen border strip plus Abha and Khamis Mushait, which excludes Mecca. Read the US State Department and UK FCDO pages before you commit to dates.

Mecca runs on the Hijri calendar, and the month you arrive decides which rites are open to you, how hot the marble is and how hard a permit is to get.

Entry to Mecca’s Haram area is restricted to Muslims under Saudi law, enforced at road checkpoints that check ID or visa. The Haram area is for Muslim visitors only, so everything below is for Muslim pilgrims. Jeddah and Taif are open to all visitors.

The Hajj window: about 14 to 19 May 2027

Hajj 2027 is expected to run around 14 to 19 May, with the Day of Arafah on Saturday 15 May and Eid al-Adha on Sunday 16 May. The dates come from the calendar and can shift by a day with the moon sighting. The tourist eVisa never covers Hajj. Places go through licensed national quotas, and packages are tiered, from basic quota packages to hospitality packages with better camp placement in Mina. Be wary of any website offering a guaranteed slot: only Nusuk at nusuk.sa and your own country’s Hajj authority are genuine.

The Umrah season: most of the rest of the year

Umrah can be performed outside the Hajj period, and eVisa holders may do so, though the Umrah visa and the tourist eVisa are separate products. Every pilgrim needs a timed Nusuk permit for the Grand Mosque whichever visa they hold. The 1448 AH season is reported to run with visas issued until 9 March 2027 and departure by 7 April 2027, so confirm the current window on Nusuk when you book.

Since 10 October 2022, women of any age may perform Umrah and Hajj without a mahram. They travel with an approved group, and home-country rules may add conditions.

Summer, winter and the clock

From May to September the daytime highs often reach 45 to 50C. During Hajj 2024 the Saudi health minister confirmed at least 1,301 deaths in temperatures above 50C, and unregistered pilgrims without cooled facilities were hit hardest. Travel only with a permit and official arrangements, keep outdoor walking out of the hours from about 11:00 to 16:30, drink water steadily and rest in the shade or cooled areas.

Winter months are gentler on the body but not on the diary, because holiday periods and Ramadan fill the mosque. Choose a Fajr or post-Isha time slot when you book.

What the rites cost

The rites themselves are free: ihram, tawaf of seven circuits, sa’i between Safa and Marwa, then halq or taqsir. Small extras add up in riyals (3.75 SAR to US$1):

  • Two-piece ihram garments cost roughly 35 to 60 SAR (about US$9 to 16) in the shops around the Haram.
  • A licensed barber for halq or taqsir charges roughly 15 to 30 SAR (about US$4 to 8).
  • Zamzam water is free from coolers throughout the mosque.

Health paperwork

Pilgrims need a valid meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccination certificate for Umrah and Hajj visas. Check the Saudi Ministry of Health for validity, and get the shot at least 10 days before arrival.

Rooms and routes

Hotels cluster around the Haram, and Makkah hotel rates on Booking.com show cancellation terms. The Haramain train from Jeddah airport takes about 30 to 45 minutes; fares sit at sar.hhr.sa . For attractions beyond the rites, see the Mecca sightseeing page .

Tip: book the Nusuk slot first, then the room, because a permit date is harder to move than a booking.