About the Umrah
The word ‘Umrah’ means ‘visit’ and refers to a sacred journey undertaken by Muslims when visiting Mecca and the sacred shrine of the Kaʿbah outside the Hajj period.
In addition to visiting Mecca and Medina for the Umrah pilgrimage, you can travel to other cities in Saudi Arabia such as Jeddah and Taif – all meaningful places in a country that has witnessed the most consequential events in Islamic history. For direct flights to Medina, you can view Medina flight tickets.
How to go on the Umrah with Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines operates flights to Saudi Arabia, including the cities of Medina, Jeddah, Riyadh, Taif and Dammam. Flights from Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Medina take approximately three and a half hours. Direct flights from Istanbul to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah take approximately four hours. Saudi Arabia now offers eVisas to citizens of 63 countries. You can click here for more information.
If you’re planning the Umrah pilgrimage, you can take advantage of your time in Saudi Arabia to visit other cities such as Medina, Jeddah and Taif. As these cities are not on the Umrah route, you can organize your own tour to explore these places. In Medina, for instance, we recommend visiting the Masjid-i Nabawî’, the Jannat-ul Baqi cemetery, the Martyrs of Uhud Cemetery, the Masjid Quba and the Masjid al-Qiblatayn.
For a trip with more flexibility, you may prefer to travel on your own, rather than with a tour group. For this, it is useful to have information regarding transportation and procedures. For example, buses and high-speed trains run between Mecca and Jeddah, with the train trip taking approximately 35 minutes; transfers are also available from King Abdulaziz International Airport. For train travel between Mecca and Medina, you can check the timetables here and make a reservation; be aware that tickets sell out quickly during peak periods.
With a less crowded airport, the city of Taif offers a more easygoing entry into Saudi Arabia; eligible travelers can enter with an e-Visa. As a summer resort for the country’s residents, Taif is also a popular tourist destination. The drive from Taif to Mecca takes around 75 minutes. At present, there is no train line between the two cities, so visitors can use applications such as Uber or Careem to hire a car and driver for the trip.
When you set off from Jeddah, Medina or Taif and arrive in Mecca, you can proceed to the designated Miqat to enter into Ihram (state of ritual purity, including suitable garments) at the mosque.
Getting a Saudi Arabia Umrah visa is easy!
Saudi Arabia offers various visa facilities for pilgrims performing the Umrah. Visitors can enter the country by obtaining a visa on arrival or an e-Visa. The e-Visa is a multiple entry visa issued for one year; e-Visa holders can stay in the country for a total of 90 days.
To obtain an e-Visa, passengers must have a passport valid for at least six months and a round-trip ticket to Saudi Arabia. Foreigners with a valid United States, United Kingdom or Schengen visa may enter Saudi Arabia by obtaining a visa on arrival.
You can visit this page to find out the e-Visa requirements by country and apply for an e-Visa Below are some helpful phone numbers in Saudi Arabia.
Consulate of the Republic of Türkiye in Jeddah: +966-12 660 16 07 / +966-12 665 48 73
Police: 999
Ambulance: 997
Fire Brigade: 998
When to travel for the Umrah
The Umrah can be undertaken at any time of the year except on the eve of Eid al-Adha and during the four days of Eid. Eid al-Fitr is known as the peak period for the Umrah. However, given the desert climate of Saudi Arabia, you may prefer to travel during the cooler winter months. Please note that, during the Hajj period (approximately one month before Eid al-Adha), only visitors with a Hajj visa may enter Mecca.
Once you’ve determined your travel dates, you can check out Turkish Airlines Holidays Umrah tours to book flights and hotel reservations for your Umrah pilgrimage.
In addition to flights, Turkish Airlines Holidays Umrah package tours offer a range of hotels within walking distance to Masjid al-Haram. Package options also include transfer services between the airport and the hotel.
Items to bring for the Umrah
For a more comfortable trip, we recommend bringing the following items.
- Tote bag
- Ihram clothing for men
- A loose-fitting topcoat for women
- Slippers or sandals
- Sneakers
- A soft, thin prayer rug
- Money pouch
- Sunscreen (odorless)
- Sunshade or umbrella
- Sunglasses
- Yasin chapters, prayer books
In addition, you can download the Nusuk application, developed by Saudi Arabia, to your IOS, Android and Huawei phones. The app offers features that let you plan your pilgrimage, including making advance reservations for addresses to be visited during your trip – such as the Garden of Eden of Masjid Nabawi in Madinah – so that you won’t be affected by potentially dense crowds at the entrances.
Bonus: Connect via İstanbul and explore the city!
For Saudi Arabia flights with a stopover in Istanbul, if the necessary conditions are met, you can stay at one of Turkish Airlines’ contracted free hotels and visit some of Istanbul’s most attractive touristic spots. Please visit the Stopover in İstanbul or Touristanbul pages for more details.
We wish you a peaceful and spiritual Umrah journey!
