How long does Umrah take?

Most pilgrims finish Umrah in about 1.5 to 3 hours. The time depends on the crowd and your pace, and tawaf and sa'i take the longest, so allow time to rest between the rites. Plan extra time if you also pray in the Haram before or after the rites, because your own schedule decides the total.

Can a woman perform Umrah during her period?

A woman cannot perform tawaf or pray the two rak'ahs while bleeding. She should wait until she is pure before doing these rites. Because travel dates are often fixed, ask a qualified scholar about your exact situation before you fly, so you know your options early.

Is Umrah allowed in every month?

Yes, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year. Hanafi scholars consider it disliked on 9 to 13 Dhul Hijjah. In 2026, Umrah permits on the Nusuk app were not issued from 18 April to 31 May. Hajj 2027 is expected in mid May, so a similar pause is likely, but check permit dates before you book flights.

What is the difference between Umrah and Hajj?

Umrah can be done at any time and has four steps. Hajj happens on fixed dates, from 8 to 13 Dhul Hijjah. It adds days in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. Umrah does not replace the Hajj obligation, which is a separate pillar of Islam.

Do I need a Nusuk permit for Umrah?

Yes. Each visit needs an Umrah permit from the Nusuk app before you arrive, and its dates must match your service package from a licensed provider. Keep it on your phone with your passport. The Ministry says a valid visa alone is not enough for later visits.

Umrah guide · step by step · updated for 2027

How to Perform Umrah: Best 2027 Guide

Pilgrims in ihram performing tawaf around the Kaaba at Masjid al-Haram — Ihram, tawaf, sa'i and halq, in order, from the miqat to the final haircut.

More than 1.27 million pilgrims entered Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas in the first six weeks of the 2026 season, a rise of 22.5 percent.

Most of them do the rites inside a dense crowd, and many do them for the first time. Losing count of laps or mixing up the order is easy when you are tired, so a clear plan removes a lot of worry.

I am Rohail Arshad, founder of Hujjaj Umrah Taxi. I am not a scholar, so I wrote this 2027 guide from commonly stated rulings, and you should ask a scholar about your own case. It walks through each rite in order, from the miqat to the final haircut. It also covers the mistakes that trip up first-timers and how to plan your rides between the airport, hotel and Haram.

Jump to:

The four steps Before you start Ihram Rules in ihram Tawaf Sa'i Halq or taqsir Common mistakes Rides to the Haram Book your transfers FAQ

The Four Steps of Umrah at a Glance

Umrah has four steps: ihram, tawaf, sa'i, and halq or taqsir. You do them in this order, and the table below shows where each one happens.

Step	What you do	Where
1. Ihram	Make your intention and begin the talbiyah	At the miqat
2. Tawaf	Walk seven circuits around the Kaaba	Masjid al-Haram
3. Sa'i	Walk seven laps between Safa and Marwah	Masjid al-Haram
4. Halq or taqsir	Shave or shorten your hair	Near the Haram

Ihram and tawaf are pillars of Umrah. Scholars differ on how to classify sa'i. Hanafi scholars call it waajib, while most other schools call it a pillar, but all agree that you must complete it.

Before You Start Umrah

Four small jobs save the most time on the day, and I would do all four before you fly:

Pack your ihram set and an unscented soap in your hand luggage, not your checked bag.
Confirm with your airline or agent where your flight crosses the miqat.
Wear comfortable open footwear, because you will walk for hours on stone floors.
Book your first ride before you land, and save the driver's number.

Ihram: Clothing, Intention and Talbiyah

Bathe, trim your nails and remove unwanted hair before you put on ihram. Men may apply perfume to the body at this point, but not to the cloth.

Men wear two unstitched white cloths, called the izar and the rida, while women wear regular modest clothing that covers the whole body.

Then make your intention for Umrah at the miqat. The intention sits in the heart, so you do not have to say it aloud. If you arrive by air, you make it on the plane as it passes the miqat.

After the intention, start the talbiyah and keep reciting it until tawaf begins:

Labbayka Allahumma Umrah (Here I am, O Allah, for Umrah).

Men recite aloud and women recite quietly, and then you pray two rak'ahs after entering ihram.

A pilgrim in the two white cloths of ihram making the intention for Umrah at the miqat — Ihram at the miqat. The intention sits in the heart; the talbiyah is said aloud.

Rules That Apply Once You Are in Ihram

Once you enter ihram, these acts are forbidden:

Using perfume.
Cutting hair or nails.
Hunting land animals.
Arguing.
Marital relations and marriage contracts.

Men may not cover the head, and their shoes must leave the ankle and top of the foot uncovered. Women may not wear a niqab or gloves, although they may draw the edge of a headscarf across the face near non-mahram men.

If you break a rule by mistake, ask Allah for forgiveness and then ask a scholar whether a fidyah is due.

Tawaf Around the Kaaba, Circuit by Circuit

Walk seven circuits around the Kaaba, keeping it on your left, which means you move anticlockwise. Start and finish each circuit at the line of the Black Stone. Count on your fingers or use a small tally counter, since losing track is the most common worry.

If the crowd stops you from touching the stone, face it and raise your right hand. Then say "Bismillah, Allahu Akbar" and move on, since you can do tawaf on the ground floor or on the upper levels.

Men also follow two extra practices:

Idtiba: uncover the right shoulder from the start of tawaf until the end.
Ramal: walk briskly for the first three circuits, then walk normally for the last four.

Women walk at a normal pace throughout. No set prayer is required, so you can use your own du'a, dhikr or Qur'an recitation.

After the seventh circuit, pray two rak'ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim, or anywhere in the mosque if the area is full, and then drink Zamzam water.

Pilgrims walking anticlockwise around the Kaaba during tawaf at Masjid al-Haram — Tawaf. Seven circuits, Kaaba on your left, start and finish at the Black Stone line.

Sa'i Between Safa and Marwah

Go to Mount Safa and face the Kaaba. Say takbir and make du'a, then walk to Marwah, which counts as the first lap. Walking back to Safa is the second, and so on. The count ends at seven, so Safa to Marwah and back makes only two laps.

You finish at Marwah on the seventh lap. Men walk briskly between the green markers, while women keep a normal pace the whole way.

Pilgrims walking the sa'i corridor between Safa and Marwah inside Masjid al-Haram — Sa'i. Safa to Marwah is one lap; you finish at Marwah on the seventh.Image: Sa'yee To Go, via Wikimedia Commons

Halq or Taqsir to Complete Your Umrah

Men either shave the whole head (halq) or shorten the hair all over (taqsir). Halq is described as the more virtuous choice. Women cut about a fingertip's length from the ends of their hair, and one small section is enough.

Licensed barbershops stand near the Haram, and your ihram ends once the hair is cut or shaved, which completes your Umrah.

A barber shaving a pilgrim's head at a licensed barbershop near the Haram after Umrah — Halq or taqsir. Your ihram ends once the hair is cut.

Common Umrah Mistakes to Avoid

Most mistakes come from crowd pressure and half-remembered advice, so watch for these:

Pushing to touch the Black Stone, the Kaaba or Maqam Ibrahim. Facing the stone from a distance is equally valid.
Walking against the flow of tawaf. Stay in the lane that moves with the crowd.
Starting tawaf away from the Black Stone line. Find the line first, then begin.
Believing a fixed du'a is required. None is prescribed.
Cutting your hair before the seventh lap of sa'i. Your ihram stays in force until sa'i is done.

Rides From the Airport to the Haram

Plan your rides before you land, because your ihram timing depends on them, and tell your driver if you need a miqat stop. These are Camry sedan fares from the 2026 Hujjaj Umrah Taxi price list, fixed per vehicle. Confirm the fare for your 2027 dates when you book.

Route	Distance or time	Camry fare (SAR)
Jeddah airport to Makkah hotel	About 85 km, 60 to 90 minutes	250
Makkah hotel to Madinah hotel	About 450 km, 4 to 5 hours	450
Madinah airport to Madinah hotel	Within Madinah	150

Pilgrims who start in Madinah enter ihram at Dhul Hulayfah, about 410 km from Makkah, so book a ride that stops there.

Why Choose Hujjaj Umrah Taxi for Umrah Transfers

I run Hujjaj Umrah Taxi, part of Al Harbi Transport, and the company is registered with Nusuk. The routes are Jeddah airport to Makkah, Makkah to Madinah, and Madinah to Makkah with a free stop at the Dhul Hulayfah miqat. Madinah airport to your hotel is covered too, and Masjid Ayesha and Ji'ranah miqat runs are available on request.

The fleet includes sedans, Staria, GMC, Hiace and Coaster vehicles for groups of up to 17. Fares have no meter, and fuel, tolls and waiting are included. Reserve online with no advance deposit, and cancel for free up to 12 hours before pickup.

AIRPORT · MIQAT STOP · INTERCITY · FIXED FARE · PER CAR

Book your Umrah transfers before you land

Hujjaj Umrah Taxi meets you inside the arrivals hall, builds in the miqat stop your route needs, and drives door to door to your hotel. Fixed fare agreed on WhatsApp before pickup, driver name and plate sent the night before, no deposit, free cancellation up to 12 hours before.

Send your flight number, hotel and group size on WhatsApp and we reply with one fixed price.

Get a quote on WhatsApp

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Umrah take?: Most pilgrims finish Umrah in about 1.5 to 3 hours. The time depends on the crowd and your pace, and tawaf and sa'i take the longest, so allow time to rest between the rites. Plan extra time if you also pray in the Haram before or after the rites, because your own schedule decides the total.
Can a woman perform Umrah during her period?: A woman cannot perform tawaf or pray the two rak'ahs while bleeding. She should wait until she is pure before doing these rites. Because travel dates are often fixed, ask a qualified scholar about your exact situation before you fly, so you know your options early.
Is Umrah allowed in every month?: Yes, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year. Hanafi scholars consider it disliked on 9 to 13 Dhul Hijjah. In 2026, Umrah permits on the Nusuk app were not issued from 18 April to 31 May. Hajj 2027 is expected in mid May, so a similar pause is likely, but check permit dates before you book flights.
What is the difference between Umrah and Hajj?: Umrah can be done at any time and has four steps. Hajj happens on fixed dates, from 8 to 13 Dhul Hijjah. It adds days in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. Umrah does not replace the Hajj obligation, which is a separate pillar of Islam.
Do I need a Nusuk permit for Umrah?: Yes. Each visit needs an Umrah permit from the Nusuk app before you arrive, and its dates must match your service package from a licensed provider. Keep it on your phone with your passport. The Ministry says a valid visa alone is not enough for later visits.