Some journeys you plan with your heart first. You think of Makkah, the Kaaba, the chance to pray in the Masjid al-Haram. Then the practical questions arrive: which visa, do I need to book on Nusuk, how many days, and above all, when should I go?
Living in the UAE, the holy cities feel close. You can fly to Jeddah or Madinah and fit a short Umrah into a few days. That proximity does not exempt you from the Saudi formalities, though, and those have changed a lot over the last few seasons.
The good news is that most of it is done online. The less good news is that mixing up the visa, the Umrah permit and the Rawdah booking can derail an otherwise well-planned trip.
Official dates for the 2026-2027 season
On 17 May 2026, Saudi Arabia published the calendar for the 1448 AH season. These are the deadlines announced by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 31 May 2026 | Umrah visas start being issued and pilgrims start arriving for the new season |
| 1 June 2026 | Umrah permits on Nusuk and access to Makkah resume |
| 9 March 2027 | Last day announced for issuing an Umrah visa |
| 23 March 2027 | Last day announced to enter Saudi Arabia on that visa under the Umrah calendar |
| 7 April 2027 | Deadline announced for Umrah pilgrims to leave |
These dates apply to the official Umrah visa calendar. Don’t confuse them with the expiry date printed on your own visa, which may be earlier, or with seasonal rules for other visa types. As Hajj approaches, special restrictions on access to Makkah can be announced even if you hold a valid tourist visa.
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February, subject to the moon sighting. If you want to perform Umrah during Ramadan, book early: it is the busiest period of the year.
UAE resident: do you need an Umrah visa?
Not necessarily. Several entry routes can work, depending on your nationality, your residence status and the rules in force on your travel date.
If your passport is eligible for the Saudi eVisa
Citizens of many countries, including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and EU member states, can apply for the Saudi tourist eVisa, which also allows Umrah outside the Hajj restriction period.
You apply on the official Visit Saudi portal or on KSA Visa. You need a passport valid for at least six months on arrival, plus the documents and insurance requested during the application.
A tourist visa and an Umrah permit are two separate things: one lets you into the kingdom, the other covers the rites.
If you hold another passport but live in the UAE
Residence in a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country is also a route to the tourist eVisa, subject to Saudi conditions. KSA Visa explicitly lists GCC residents among eligible applicants.
That matters for Dubai and Abu Dhabi residents with Indian, Pakistani, Egyptian, Filipino, Moroccan and many other passports. It does not mean an Emirates ID gets you across the border: you still need the visa and must pass the eligibility checks.
The official KSA Visa guidance mentions a GCC residence valid for at least three months for this route. Read the questionnaire and conditions on the portal before you pay; they can vary with your file.
If you are an Emirati citizen
GCC citizens follow different entry rules from expatriate residents. They normally don’t need a tourist visa to enter Saudi Arabia, but must still get the Umrah permit and respect any seasonal restrictions.
Choose your visa based on your passport and your actual status, not on an advert promising a “guaranteed Umrah visa for all UAE residents”.
The dedicated Umrah visa still exists, with something new in 2026
If you prefer to go through the religious route, the Umrah visa is still available through authorised channels.
Since August 2025, the official Nusuk Umrah platform lets you apply for a visa and book services without an outside agency. You can choose a full package or individual services: accommodation, transport and visits, depending on availability.
On 20 July 2026, the Saudi ministry announced a new multiple-entry Umrah visa, valid for 365 days with a total stay of up to 90 days. It does not mean unlimited free entry: for each trip, the holder must buy a service from an approved Nusuk provider, get an Umrah permit and have the visa reactivated. It is suspended during the Hajj period.
It suits people who want to return several times, but it should not be confused with the tourist eVisa, which has different conditions.
Nusuk: what the app is actually for
Nusuk is the official tool to know before you go. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah states that an Umrah permit must be obtained before performing the rites, and that you apply on Nusuk.
The usual steps:
- Download the Nusuk app from the links on the official site, nusuk.sa.
- Create your account with your passport and visa details, as prompted.
- Open Permits and choose Umrah Permit.
- Pick an available slot that fits your trip.
- Confirm and keep the digital permit on your phone.
The Umrah permit is free. Don’t pay a middleman to “unlock” a free booking. Packages, transport and hotels are of course paid for.
The permit can be checked on site. Availability changes, especially in Ramadan, so don’t wait until you reach Makkah to find your slot has gone.
The Rawdah in Madinah is a separate booking
If you visit Madinah, distinguish between praying in the Prophet’s Mosque (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi) and entering Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah, the much sought-after area inside the mosque.
The Rawdah needs its own Nusuk booking, with separate slots for men and women. Your Makkah Umrah permit does not give you access to it.
In the app, choose Rawdah Prayer Permit, then a slot and any companions allowed. The official service is free, but places are limited.
From Dubai or Abu Dhabi: fly or drive?
Flying: the simplest for a short trip
From the UAE, compare flights to Jeddah (JED) or Madinah (MED), depending on the order you want to visit.
Jeddah is usually the most convenient gateway to Makkah. From there, take the Haramain high-speed train, a car with driver, a taxi or the transfer in your package.
If you want to start with Madinah, look at direct flights to MED, then travel on to Makkah by train or road.
The Haramain train links the two holy cities and stops at Jeddah airport. Check times and tickets on the official Haramain site.
Driving: possible, but plan it seriously
Driving from the UAE can make sense for a family or a longer stay. Don’t rely on the GPS time alone.
Allow for border formalities, insurance valid in Saudi Arabia, vehicle documents, permission if the car is not in your name, breaks and fatigue. With children, an overnight stop is often wiser than one very long drive.
If you are heading straight to Makkah for Umrah, find out before you leave where and when to enter ihram; don’t leave it until you reach the hotel.
How many days?
For a first Umrah from Dubai, four to six days lets you see Makkah and spend time in Madinah without rushing between transfers.
Two or three days is feasible logistically, but leaves little margin for a delayed flight, fatigue or an unavailable Nusuk slot.
With children or elderly parents, choose a hotel with genuinely easy access to the Haram. A few hundred metres looks short on a map but feels long after a day on your feet. Check slopes, shuttles, entrances and lifts.
Don’t just take the cheapest package without comparing what it includes: flights, visas, nights, transfers and guidance are not always bundled the same way.
Health requirements to check before booking
Saudi Arabia publishes specific health requirements for Umrah travellers, which may include vaccinations and documents that vary by age or country of origin.
Check the latest instructions from the Saudi Ministry of Health and see a doctor early. Don’t rely on an old vaccine list: the rules can change from one season to the next.
Pack comfortable shoes for walking outside the rites, a water bottle where allowed, any medicines with their prescriptions, and plan time to rest.
The mistakes that most often complicate a trip
Confusing the visa and the permit. You can be allowed into Saudi Arabia without having booked your Umrah slot.
Booking the Rawdah at the last minute. Its slots are separate from Umrah slots and in high demand.
Buying a flight before checking the visa conditions. Your nationality, passport validity and UAE residence validity matter more than simply living in Dubai.
Reading 7 April 2027 as a universal permission to stay. It is the announced deadline for the Umrah visa season; your own document and access restrictions still apply.
Choosing a hotel only on its advertised distance. A well-connected hotel with easy access to the Haram can be more comfortable than a closer one that is hard to reach.
Sort the paperwork early, then leave room for the journey
From the UAE, it’s tempting to treat Umrah like a quick getaway. Flights are short and everything seems bookable from your phone.
But the point is not just to make a trip work. It’s to arrive in Makkah in good conditions, with enough time and calm for the rites and prayer.
So start with your visa, your Nusuk permit and the season dates. Then book suitable accommodation and realistic transport. If Madinah is part of the trip, book the Rawdah separately.
Once those details are settled, you can focus on what really matters.
Information checked in November 2026. Visa rules, access to Makkah, Nusuk slots and health requirements can change. The official calendar mainly concerns Umrah visas; it does not replace the conditions of each visa or the seasonal Hajj restrictions. Sources: Saudi Press Agency (17 May 2026), KSA Visa, Visit Saudi, Nusuk Umrah, Nusuk Umrah permit, Nusuk Rawdah permit, Saudi Ministry of Hajj, multiple-entry Umrah visa (July 2026), Saudi Ministry of Health, Haramain High Speed Railway.
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