Everything to know about travel packages, costs and documents
UAE: Before Ramadan, Umrah service providers in the UAE saw a sharp increase in the pilgrimage of about 65% compared to other months. The demand for the Umrah pilgrimage is growing before and during the holy month, with close to a hundred bus trips made each week. According to Shebin Rasheed of Bait al Ateeq Haj services, based in Makkah with a branch office in Sharjah, a tremendous increase has been observed in the number of citizens travelling to the holy city of Makkah for Umrah. For residents of the nation, the organisation arranges for Umrah and Haj.
According to each Umrah operator, over 50 pilgrims fly each week and much more travel by bus. Each Wednesday, more than one hundred buses travel to Makkah from various locations across the nation. Jaffer Pulappatta who arranges groups for the Umrah pilgrimage points out that each bus could hold up to 50 people.
As per this estimation, over 5,000 individuals travel by bus each week from the UAE to Makkah. Every week, about 50 people are assisted to travel to Makkah for Umrah. Because of the huge increase in travellers this season, there are additional agencies also, added Pulappatta.
In the first two weeks of Ramadan, according to operators, a price hike is anticipated between 10% to 15%.
Packages
To complete the pilgrimage, Umrah groups are providing alluring packages. Yet they claim that because of the high demand, the cost of these packages is rising each week. Nowadays, the average cost of an Umrah package is around 4,000Dh. Due to the consistent change in rates and accommodation, the same price cannot be anticipated in the following week, according to Pulapatta.
Aeroplane package
Many airlines offer Umrah flights since they are permitted to use the Haj terminal in Jeddah.
Five-day package:
- Costs Dh4,000 at this time (approx)
- Makkah for three days and Madina for two days
- Includes airfare, transportation, and lodging at three-star hotels
- The package keeps out food (if needed extra costs)
- Based on availability and location, five-star accommodations are provided for an additional fee
Bus package
For 10-day:
- Departs from Al Ain, Sharjah, and Dubai
- 20 to 25 hours are required for a single trip, with 3-4 stops
- Now, prices range from Dh1,800 to Dh2,000 (approx)
- Three-star lodging
- Three days in Madina and five days in Makkah
- No food included
- Three meals were provided on the bus
Everyone on the pilgrimage has distinct food preferences. That is why food is excluded from the package, says Pulappatta.
According to aggregators, the lodging is offered close to Mosque Nabawi in Madinah and the Holy Kaaba in Makkah. They also stated that anyone having a valid Umrah visa or Saudi Multiple entry visa will not be required to pay the Dh700 visa fee.
Wearing ihram
A Muslim must enter the holy state of ihram to do the Haj (major pilgrimage) or the Umrah (minor pilgrimage).
Upon entering the Miqat point, Rasheed claimed that pilgrims travelling by bus wear ihram because it is the main point. For the pilgrims to change to Ihram, the bus will stop at a Miqat location, according to Rasheed.
It is recommended that travellers who are flying to Jeddah change to the state of Ihram before taking off. Yet if one wants to change later, one can do it while flying. Before approaching the Miqat frontier, the pilot makes an announcement, and continued Rasheed.
Documents needed
- Visa
- Passport
- Yellow fever vaccination required
- Vaccination certificate (not necessary)
- PCR certificate (if not vaccinated)
