Family Umrah · 2027 · permits, a 7 day plan, kids, parents and rides

Umrah With Family in 2027 Made Simple, From Permits to Kids and Rides

Tawaf, sa'i and the walks between them take about 2.5 to 3 hours off peak, and roughly double at busy times, according to Wego. With a toddler or a tired child, those hours are the real test of a family Umrah.

I am Rohail Arshad, founder of Hujjaj Umrah Taxi. I run a transport company in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah, so I see a family trip as a plan made of papers, timings and rides. This guide covers the papers, a 7 day plan, the rituals with children, older parents, the Rawdah and the cost of rides for a group.

Permits and Papers for Umrah With Family

Every traveller needs their own passport, and that includes babies. Wego says each child also needs their own Umrah visa, and lists the fee as SAR 300 per person plus mandatory medical insurance. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah FAQ puts the visa fee at about SAR 300.

Every pilgrim needs an Umrah permit from the Nusuk app. The Ministry FAQ says you can add up to four companions to your account, not counting dependents.

Reports differ for children under five. Gulf News reported in August 2022 that they need no permit, while Wego says every child needs one. Check the Nusuk app when you book.

The Ministry of Health's meningococcal vaccine rule covers every Umrah pilgrim, and the shot must be given at least 10 days before arrival. Ask your child's doctor early.

The Best Time for Umrah With Family

Wego names November to February as the best months for families, because Makkah reaches 40 to 45°C in summer. Daytime highs can still reach the mid 30s°C in November. This season, that window ends before Ramadan, which Wego lists as starting on 8 February 2027.

Ramadan and school holidays are the busiest times, so plan Umrah in Ramadan with extra care.

A 7 Day Plan for a Family Umrah

Wego suggests at least 5 to 7 days, with 3 to 4 nights in Makkah and 2 to 3 in Madinah. This is the plan I recommend for a family with young children. It is my own suggestion, not an official schedule.

1. Day 1Arrive, check in and rest. Take a short walk to the Haram so the children learn the way and your gate.
2. Day 2Perform Umrah right after Fajr, and rest through the middle of the day.
3. Day 3Pray near the hotel only. Wego advises a daily recovery block for rest, fluids and foot care, and this day is it.
4. Day 4Ride to Madinah, check in and rest.
5. Day 5Visit the Prophet's Mosque and your Rawdah slot.
6. Day 6Keep it slow, with prayers and short walks.
7. Day 7Ride to the airport and fly home.

Family Hotels Near the Haram

Halal Booking and Wego both advise a hotel within a few hundred metres of the Haram, because young children tire on long walks. Wego suggests a family room or suite with a kitchenette for snacks and warm milk. I recommend asking for connecting or adjacent rooms if your family is large.

Tawaf and Sa'i With Kids

Wego advises tawaf and sa'i right after Fajr or between Isha and midnight, and avoiding roughly 10 am to 4 pm. It also recommends a soft carrier or sling for young children.

For children below the age of discernment, generally under 7, a parent forms the intention and guides them through tawaf and sa'i, according to Wego. Ask a scholar about your own child. Older children enjoy it more when you walk them through the steps to perform Umrah at home first.

Keeping Children Safe in the Crowd

Machines at the main gates of the Grand Mosque, including King Abdulaziz and Al-Salam, print a child's wristband. It shows the child's name and a parent's phone number, Arab News reported in April 2023. Collect one for each child at the first visit.

Wego also suggests a laminated card in the child's pocket with the name, hotel, room number and phone number in English and Arabic. I recommend agreeing on a numbered gate as the meeting point.

Umrah With Parents and Grandparents in the Family

Many families travel with older parents. Siasat reported in August 2024 that the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques offers free wheelchairs for the elderly and disabled. They are at the eastern courtyard, Bab Al Salam No. 19, and the western courtyard by Al Shabika Bridge. Paid rentals run from seven points, including the first floor of the mataf and Masa'a Bab 14.

Prices were not published, so ask the staff. Wego says the first and second floors are set aside for tawaf with wheelchairs and electric carts, and routes can change with the crowds. Older relatives should also carry their medicines in original packaging with a medical report, and ask their doctor if the doses need changing.

Madinah and the Rawdah for a Family

The Rawdah needs its own free permit in the Nusuk app. Wego says to book before you reach Madinah, because popular times fill quickly.

Nusuk has separate men's and women's services with different times and gates, and choosing the wrong one makes the permit invalid. A couple will therefore visit at different times, so plan who stays with young children. Wego does not state any rule for children, so confirm it in the app.

Packing for a Family Umrah

Keep passports, permits and medicines in a hand bag, with spare clothes and snacks for the children, as Umrah Ziyarat Service advises. Wego says supermarkets near the Haram hotels, such as BinDawood and Al Raya, stock nappies, formula and baby food, so you can pack less.

Gulf News reported in February 2024 that unauthorised travel bags, especially large ones, are banned at the Grand Mosque. Leave suitcases at the hotel and carry one small bag.

What Family Rides Cost in Saudi Arabia

A family usually needs more room than one sedan gives. These are the Hujjaj Umrah Taxi fixed fares from Jeddah airport to a Makkah hotel. The table also shows the passengers and bags each vehicle holds.

By my own calculation, a family of six in one Staria pays SAR 300, or SAR 50 each. Two Camrys would cost SAR 500. I recommend one larger vehicle over two sedans, as long as the bags fit. For rides planned around a family, the Umrah taxi guide for families goes deeper.

Book a Family Umrah Ride With Hujjaj Umrah Taxi

One price covers your whole family. Hujjaj Umrah Taxi charges a fixed fare per vehicle, not per person, with fuel, tolls, parking, waiting time and luggage help included. Your driver tracks your flight and waits for free after landing. Child seats are free on request, so ask for them when you book and share your bag count.

Nothing is charged online. You pay the driver at the end of the ride, and cancellation is free up to 12 hours before pickup. The driver's name, photo and phone number reach you on WhatsApp the day before. The company is registered with Nusuk and is part of Al Harbi Transport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are children allowed in Masjid al-Haram during Ramadan?

In April 2021, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said children could not accompany worshippers at the Two Holy Mosques during Ramadan. That rule came during COVID restrictions, and I found no current notice either way. Check Nusuk and the Ministry before you plan a Ramadan trip with children.

What should children wear for Umrah?

According to Wego, boys can wear a two-piece ihram cloth if it is practical, and babies and toddlers can wear modest white clothing. Girls wear normal modest clothing. These are Wego's guidelines, not an official ruling, so ask a scholar if you are unsure about your child's age.

Does a child's Umrah count as the adult obligation?

No, according to Wego. Umrah done before puberty does not fulfil the adult obligation, so the child must perform it again later. That does not stop children from taking part, because Wego says newborns, toddlers and older children can all perform the rituals. Ask a scholar about your own situation.

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