Last checked: 3 November 2026. Visa rules, permits and flight schedules change often — confirm with your airline and the official sources linked below before you travel.
Planning Umrah from the United Kingdom? This guide covers the parts that UK pilgrims ask us about most: which visa route British citizens can use, the Umrah permit, getting from Jeddah or Madinah airport to your hotel, and moving between Makkah and Madinah once you are in Saudi Arabia.
1. Visa: what British citizens can use
- Tourist eVisa. The UK is on Saudi Arabia’s tourist eVisa list. The eVisa is normally a one-year, multiple-entry visa allowing up to 90 days in total, and it can be used for Umrah outside the Hajj season. It cannot be used for Hajj.
- Multiple-entry Umrah visa. Introduced in July 2026: valid for 365 days with up to 90 days of total stay. Each entry needs an approved Nusuk service package.
- Umrah permit. Whatever visa you hold, you still need an Umrah permit booked in the official Nusuk app before you go to Masjid al-Haram. A visa does not replace the permit.
- Vaccination. The meningococcal ACWY vaccine is required at least 10 days before arrival.
Always apply through the official Saudi visa platform or a licensed agent, and check Nusuk for permit availability on your dates.
2. Flights from the UK
Saudia flies directly between Manchester and Jeddah and plans to increase the route from 7 to 10 flights a week from 2 January 2027. From London and other UK airports there are direct and one-stop options to Jeddah (JED) and Madinah (MED); schedules change by season, so compare airlines when you book. If you plan to start in Madinah, flying into Madinah saves a long road or train journey on arrival.
3. Jeddah Airport to your Makkah hotel
Most UK pilgrims land at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and go straight to Makkah. If you are coming for Umrah, enter Ihram on the plane before it passes the Miqat — the crew usually announce it. The drive to a Makkah hotel takes around an hour or more depending on traffic. Your main options are the Haramain train (from the airport station to Makkah station, then a taxi to the hotel), a taxi from the rank, or a pre-booked private car that takes you door to door with your luggage.
For families with children, elderly parents or a lot of luggage, a private car is usually the least tiring choice after a long flight. See Jeddah Airport private pickup and Jeddah to Makkah prices.
4. Makkah to Madinah
You can travel between the two holy cities by the Haramain high-speed train or by road. The road trip by private car takes about four to five hours with stops and goes hotel to hotel. Read Makkah to Madinah: train or road to compare, or see Makkah to Madinah by private car.
5. Ziyarat in Makkah and Madinah
Many UK families add a guided visit to the historic sites: Jabal al-Nour and Cave Hira, Jabal Thawr, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah in Makkah; Masjid Quba, Masjid al-Qiblatain, Mount Uhud and the Khandaq area in Madinah. See our Makkah Ziyarat guide and Madinah Ziyarat guide.
6. Practical tips for UK pilgrims
- Saudi Arabia is 3 hours ahead of the UK in winter (GMT) and 2 hours ahead in summer (BST).
- Keep a copy of your visa, Nusuk permit and hotel booking on your phone and on paper.
- Save your transport booking and driver contact on WhatsApp before you fly — UK SIM roaming can be expensive.
- Book your airport transfer for your actual landing time and send your flight number, so a delay does not cause a missed pickup.
Book your transport
ZiyaraWay arranges private cars, family vans and coaches for airport transfers, Makkah–Madinah journeys and Ziyarat. Prices for each route are shown live on our route pages and in the booking app, or message us on WhatsApp +966 58 173 3825.
Official sources
- Saudi visa platform: visa.visitsaudi.com
- Nusuk (Umrah permits): nusuk.sa
- UK travel advice for Saudi Arabia: gov.uk
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