Umrah: How to Perform the Lesser Pilgrimage to Mecca

Mecca is accessible to Muslims only. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city — enforced at all checkpoints on roads into Mecca.

Umrah is the voluntary pilgrimage to Mecca — a set of rituals performed at Al-Masjid al-Haram that can be undertaken at any time of year. Unlike Hajj, which is obligatory for every able Muslim and occurs on fixed dates, Umrah is sunnah (recommended) and flexible in timing. Millions of Muslims perform Umrah each year — far more than the quota-limited Hajj.

Umrah vs Hajj: The Key Differences

Obligation: Hajj is fard (obligatory). Umrah is sunnah (highly recommended but not mandatory).

Timing: Hajj occurs on fixed days of Dhul Hijjah. Umrah can be performed at any time of year except during the Hajj days themselves.

Duration of rituals: Umrah involves four core rituals and takes 3–5 hours. Hajj spans five days and involves additional rites (standing at Arafat, stoning at Muzdalifah and Mina) not present in Umrah.

Access: The same restriction applies — both are exclusively for Muslims.

The Steps of Umrah

1. Ihram Before crossing the miqat (the designated boundary around Mecca), the pilgrim enters the state of ihram. Men wear two white seamless cloths (izar and rida); women wear modest clothing covering everything except the face and hands. The pilgrim makes the intention (niyyah) for Umrah and recites the talbiyah:

Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayk la sharika laka labbayk, innal hamda wan ni’mata laka wal mulk, la sharika lak.

In the state of ihram, certain actions are prohibited: cutting hair or nails, using perfume or scented products, engaging in sexual relations, and (for men) covering the head.

2. Tawaf (Circumambulation) Upon arriving at Al-Masjid al-Haram, the pilgrim performs tawaf — walking seven times counter-clockwise around the Kaaba. The tawaf begins and ends at the Black Stone (Al-Hajar al-Aswad) — pilgrims touch or gesture toward it at the start of each circuit. Men perform the first three circuits at a brisk pace (raml).

After tawaf, the pilgrim prays two rakat behind the Maqam Ibrahim (Station of Abraham).

3. Sa’i (Walking between Safa and Marwah) Sa’i commemorates Hagar’s frantic search for water for her infant Ishmael after Abraham left them in the valley of Mecca. Pilgrims walk seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwah — now enclosed within the mosque complex in a long air-conditioned corridor. The walk begins at Safa and ends at Marwah. During the walk, pilgrims make supplication and recite Quranic verses.

4. Halq or Taqsir (Hair Cutting) After Sa’i, the pilgrim exits ihram by having the hair shaved (halq, preferred for men) or trimmed (taqsir, at least 2.5 centimetres, for women and men who prefer not to shave). This completes the Umrah.

The Umrah Visa

Nusuk Platform: Saudi Arabia’s official pilgrimage platform (nusuk.sa) allows individual booking of Umrah permits, accommodation near Al-Masjid al-Haram, and Mecca-Medina transport.

Authorised travel agents: Many Muslim-majority countries have Ministry of Religious Affairs-supervised Umrah agents offering package tours.

Tourist eVisa: Saudi Arabia has at times allowed Muslims holding a tourist eVisa to perform Umrah. Check current regulations — this policy has changed repeatedly and may not apply to all nationalities.

Required documentation: Passport valid 6+ months, proof of Muslim faith (for some nationalities), for women: evidence of travel with a mahram or in an organised group where required.

Planning Your Visit

Accommodation: Book hotels near Al-Masjid al-Haram as early as possible — proximity matters greatly as you will be performing multiple tawaf. The Mecca accommodation guide covers the key hotel zones.

Medina: Most Umrah packages include time in Medina for visiting Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. See the Medina guide for information on the Prophet’s Mosque and other holy sites.

Best time for crowds: Late nights in Mecca are less crowded for tawaf — many pilgrims prefer performing tawaf after midnight when the Mataf (circumambulation area) is more open.