How to Perform Umrah on Your Own with a Transit Visa

Umrah is an act of worship, a pilgrimage every Muslim dreams of completing. Traditionally, that meant going through a travel agency, paying substantial package fees, and following someone else’s schedule. Thanks to changes in Saudi Arabia’s visa policy over the past few years, that is no longer the only way.

I am a citizen of Bangladesh, and a bit more about me and why I write this blog here. I performed Umrah entirely on my own using a free Saudi transit visa obtained through a layover flight. This guide walks through exactly how I did it, updated for the current rules as of 2026, along with everything that has changed since I first wrote about this trip: a genuinely significant expansion of who can now perform Umrah independently, the platforms you are required to use, real costs, where to stay, and the answers to the questions readers have asked me most often in the comments below.

If you have ever assumed Umrah requires a travel agent and a large budget, this guide is proof that it does not.

2026 Update: Who Can Now Perform Umrah

When I first wrote this guide, the transit visa was the standout option for independent pilgrims because so few other visas allowed Umrah without going through an agency. That has changed.

As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 push to open up religious tourism, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah now allows Umrah to be performed on a broader range of valid visas, not only the transit visa:

• Transit / stopover visa — free with Saudia or Flynas, 96-hour stay, the option this guide focuses on
• Tourist e-visa — for travelers who want more time in the Kingdom than a layover allows
• Work visa — for those already employed in Saudi Arabia
• Family or private visit visa — for those visiting relatives or contacts in the country

Whichever visa you hold, one thing has not changed and has actually become stricter: registration through the official Nusuk platform is mandatory for everyone, regardless of visa type. Nusuk manages your Umrah appointment, and increasingly your accommodation and transport bookings too. Do not attempt Umrah without an active Nusuk registration; officials do check around the Haram complex.

For a short layover, the transit visa remains the fastest, cheapest, and simplest route, which is why the rest of this guide focuses on it. If you have more time or already hold another eligible visa, the ritual steps below apply exactly the same way.

How to Get a Saudi Transit Visa on Your Own

The process is available to people of every nationality and is simpler than most travel agencies would have you believe.

Book a ticket with Saudia, the national carrier, or Flynas, a Saudi budget airline. Saudi Arabia cannot be your final destination; you need a layover en route somewhere else. I booked from Dhaka to Istanbul with a layover in Jeddah. During the booking process, both airlines give you the option to apply for the transit/stopover e-visa directly. You will upload a photo and enter your details.

• Saudia: No charge for the visa itself, though the mandatory insurance still applies
• Flynas: A small processing fee, roughly SAR 10, plus insurance

The visa is typically approved within minutes and is valid for 90 days from issuance, with a 96-hour stay permit once you land. Saudia’s package includes a complimentary one-night hotel stay in Mecca, but you must book it at least two days in advance, and I found the second night’s rate at that hotel worked out more expensive than booking independently, so I skipped it. Your experience may vary.

Preparation for Umrah

Now that you have your ticket and visa, here is the ritual itself, step by step, exactly as I performed it.

Before entering the state of Ihram, trim your nails and shave underarm and pubic hair. Once you begin Umrah, these are not repeatable until it concludes.

Wearing Ihram Clothes

Ihram is the required clothing for Umrah: two pieces of unstitched white cloth for men, one covering the upper body and one the lower. Sandals that do not cover the top of the foot are worn instead of closed shoes. Women are not required to wear Ihram clothing and instead wear their normal modest dress.

Where to Wear Ihram Clothes

“Miqat” refers to designated boundary points around Saudi Arabia. You must be in the state of Ihram before crossing one of these points. If you are flying in, you will cross a Miqat before landing, and Saudia will announce it as you approach. Crossing without Ihram means returning to the Miqat point to correct it. I changed into Ihram before boarding since I intended to perform Umrah the same day I arrived in Jeddah. The flight was around six hours and reasonably comfortable to wear it for.

The Intention of Making Umrah

Putting on Ihram clothing alone does not begin your Umrah; it is simply the required dress. You formally enter the state of Umrah by declaring your intention (Niyyah) after donning Ihram and before crossing the Miqat.

Labbayka Allahumma Umratan.

Here I am, O Allah, for making Umrah, so make it easy for me and accept it from me.

Recite it both aloud and silently.

Talbiyyah

After declaring your intention, recite the Talbiyyah:

Labbayek, Allahumma Labbayek. Labbayek La Sharikala Laka Labbayek. Innal hamda, wan-ni’amata, laka wal Mulk. La sharika Lak.

At Your service, Allah, at Your service. You have no partner, at your service. Truly all praise, favour and sovereignty is Yours. You have no partner.

From this point you are in the state of Ihram. Until you complete Umrah, you are not permitted to:

• Cover the head (for men) or the face (for women)
• Use perfume
• Clip nails or cut hair
• Wear stitched clothing (men)
• Wear gloves
• Have marital relations
• Hunt or kill any creature
• Fight or argue with anyone

My Flight from Dhaka to Jeddah

The flight itself was unremarkable at best. A large aircraft with a high load factor and, in my experience, not enough cabin crew for the number of passengers. I had to ask more than once before getting water, and the food was underwhelming for the fare paid. None of this changes the outcome, but it is worth setting expectations honestly.

Immigration at Jeddah Airport

Landing at Jeddah was smooth. We disembarked through a boarding bridge with a short walk to passport control. Immigration was straightforward: a 10 to 15 minute queue, and the visa officer asked only to see my onward ticket before waving me through.

How to Get from Jeddah Airport to Mecca

Bus

Signs direct you out of the airport toward public transport. Large buses wait outside; negotiate the fare with the operator on the spot. Expect to pay around SAR 50.

Taxi

Taxis can be booked at the airport, with the price depending on your negotiation, but aim to keep it under SAR 150. Taxis hailed just outside the terminal tend to be cheaper than booking from inside.

Train — The Haramain High-Speed Railway

The Haramain High-Speed Railway connects Jeddah Airport to Mecca in around 55 minutes, and this is genuinely the best option if you are travelling light and want a fast, reliable, comfortable journey without any negotiation. Note that the Mecca station is roughly 7 km from Haram Sharif, so you’ll need a short taxi onward from the station. The same railway connects Mecca to Madinah in about 2 hours 25 minutes, which makes it an excellent option if you plan to visit Madinah on the same trip.

🚕 Book a private airport transfer instead, if you would rather skip the negotiation entirely and go straight to your hotel

🚄 Book the Jeddah to Mecca Haramain High Speed Train

🚄 Book the Mecca to Jeddah Haramain High Speed Train

Tawaf

Tawaf means “going round and round.” It is the first ritual act of Umrah: circling the Kaaba seven times in an anticlockwise direction.

Check into your hotel, leave your luggage, and shower before you begin. Perform ablution (Wudu) before entering the state required for Tawaf. Women who are menstruating cannot perform Umrah until their cycle ends. When ready, head to Haram Sharif. If you book one of the hotels I recommend later in this guide, you can walk there without needing any transport at all.

Because you are in Ihram, you are permitted onto the ground floor Tawaf area directly around the Kaaba. This matters: pilgrims on the first or second floor take considerably longer to complete Tawaf and have a harder time reaching the area for Sa’i afterward.

Tawaf begins at the Black Stone, known as Hajar al-Aswad. Men uncover the right shoulder, tucking the cloth behind the right armpit, before beginning. Point toward the stone and say:

Allahu Akbar

Allah is great

Begin walking with the Kaaba to your left. Each time you pass the Black Stone on subsequent laps, point and repeat Allahu Akbar.

Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, recite:

Rabbana Atina Fid Dunya Hasanah, wa fil akhirati hasanah, wa qina Azab an nar.

O Lord, grant us the best of this world and the best of the next, and keep us safe from the torment of hellfire.

Maqam Ibrahim Prayer

After your seventh lap, return toward the door you entered from and face the Kaaba. You will see others praying here, facing the Kaaba. Offer two rakats of prayer at this spot.

Drink Water from Zamzam

Standing after your prayer, drink a glass of Zamzam water and pour a little over your head. Zamzam stations are strategically placed and clearly marked throughout the complex, with plastic cups readily available.

Sa’i Between Safa and Marwa Hills

Head to Safa Mountain and walk seven times between Safa and Marwa. On your way to Safa, recite

Innas safa wa marwata min sha’a’iri llah.

Safa and Marwa are indeed among the signs of Allah.

At the top of Safa, you’ll see the Kaaba. Facing it, recite:

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahi l-hamd.

Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, and all praise be to Allah.

Head toward Marwah. When you pass beneath the green light marker overhead, quicken your pace to a brisk walk or light jog; once you pass beyond it, return to a normal walking pace.

Arriving at Marwa from Safa completes one lap. Returning to Safa begins the second. Repeat until you have completed seven laps in total; if done correctly, your final lap ends at Marwah. Sa’i is now complete.

Cutting Your Hair (Tahallul)

The final step is cutting your hair. Women trim roughly an inch. Men either shave completely or trim it very short. Exit near the Marwa gate, turn right, and continue walking; you’ll find salons and barbers offering this service, typically for around SAR 10. Completing this step ends your state of Ihram and concludes your Umrah.

A 96-Hour Sample Itinerary

If your entire transit visa window is 96 hours, here is a realistic way to structure it:

Day 1 — Land in Jeddah, clear immigration, take the Haramain train or a taxi to Mecca, check into your hotel, rest briefly, then perform Umrah the same evening once you feel ready.

Day 2 — Rest, pray at the Haram at your own pace, explore nearby areas of Mecca. If your visa and time allow, this is a good day to travel to Madinah by train.

Day 3 — If in Madinah, visit Masjid an-Nabawi and the surrounding historic sites. Otherwise, use this day for a second, unhurried visit to the Haram, or a half-day tour of Old Jeddah on your way back through.

Day 4 — Return to Jeddah in good time for your onward flight, factoring in traffic and airport procedures.

DIY Umrah vs a Travel Agency Package

Neither approach is objectively better. If you are comfortable navigating an airport, an app, and a hotel booking on your own, DIY on a transit visa is significantly cheaper and just as spiritually complete. If you would rather have every logistic handled and are traveling with elderly family members or young children, a package may genuinely serve you better.

Estimated Cost Breakdown

Costs vary enormously by nationality, season, and how many people are traveling, so treat this as a rough planning guide rather than a quote.

A frugal solo traveler can often complete the entire Umrah portion of the trip, beyond the flight itself, for a few hundred dollars. Family groups and those choosing hotels directly overlooking the Kaaba will naturally spend considerably more.

Before You Go: A Short Checklist

• Passport with at least 6 months validity remaining
• Confirmed onward ticket to a third destination
• Flight booked directly with Saudia or Flynas to trigger the transit visa option
• Meningitis (ACWY) vaccination, if required for your nationality — check with your airline or the Saudi embassy, and allow at least 10 days before travel if you need it
• Registered on the Nusuk app with your Umrah appointment booked
• Hotel booked, ideally within walking distance of Haram Sharif
• Comfortable, non-restrictive Ihram clothing packed (men) or modest clothing (women)
• A small daypack for shoes and a water bottle, since Umrah is performed barefoot
• Travel insurance covering your trip

Where to Stay in Mecca

When choosing a hotel, I prioritized places within easy walking distance of Masjid al-Haram, so I never needed a car once I arrived.

Where I Stayed and Similar Value Options

1. Yasmin Al Majd — Where I stayed, and I’d choose it again. The Haram is roughly 800 metres away, there are several good fast food options nearby (wrapped chicken, wrapped fish, chicken fries), and a convenience store sits directly across the street.
2. Emaar Al Khlil — Similarly fair pricing and a convenient location near Haram Sharif.
3. Emar Al Manar — In the same price bracket and same general area as the two above; a solid value option.

If You Want to Spend More

4. Swisshotel Makkah — A short distance out, with Kaaba views from many rooms, and consistently among the better higher-end options near the Haram.
5. ZamZam Pullman Makkah Hotel — Likely the most reasonably priced hotel within the Clock Tower complex itself. Around 100 metres from the Kaaba with a genuinely good view.

More Options Across Every Budget

Beyond the five above, these are other well-known Mecca hotels worth comparing, organised roughly by budget:

Luxury

Mid-range

Budget

Where to Stay in Madinah

If your transit visa window allows it, many independent pilgrims extend their trip to visit Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah, roughly 2 hours 25 minutes from Mecca by Haramain train. As with Mecca, proximity to the mosque is the main factor worth paying for.

Optional: Guided Tours If You Want Local Support

Nothing about this guide requires you to book a tour. But if part of your layover is dedicated to sightseeing rather than ritual, or you’d simply prefer a local guide for orientation, these are legitimate, well-reviewed options:

• Historic Jeddah Guided Tour or Discover Old Jeddah Al Balad — Jeddah’s UNESCO-listed old town, a good use of a few spare hours before or after your flight
• Makkah Essentials Tour with Optional Lunch — for those who want a knowledgeable local to walk them through the wider Haram complex and its history alongside their own Umrah
• Mecca Historical & Religious Tour from Jeddah or Jeddah: Makkah, Umrah Pilgrimage Tour — for travelers who want company and local support through the logistics without committing to a full traditional package

Frequently Asked Question about Umrah

Booking Your Umrah Trip

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