The first month in Makkah goes fastest when you stop trying to do everything at once. Most admin jobs depend on one another: the bank wants your address, the address wants your lease, and almost everything wants your Absher login.
This checklist puts those jobs in the order that works, a week at a time, with links to the official services and our deeper guides.
Quick answer
Short answer: Week 1: get Absher working, find a home and register the lease on Ejar. Week 2: National Address, SIM, bank account and utilities. Week 3: schools, health and emergency numbers. Week 4: learn the bus routes, the Friday rhythm and how to book Umrah as a resident on Nusuk.
Week 1: identity and a home
Week 1
- Absher login working, phone number up to date
- Two or three districts shortlisted
- Homes visited at school-run time and after Maghrib
- Lease registered on Ejar before paying
Your residency details sit at the centre of everything, and the Ministry of Interior’s Absher platform is where many residency services live. Keep the registered mobile number current; verification codes go there.
For housing, the rule is simple: no large payment before the contract is on Ejar. Our Ejar guide for tenants lists what to check in the contract.
Week 2: address, phone and money
Week 2
- National Address registered through SPL
- SIM bought from a licensed operator and authenticated
- Bank account opened
- Electricity and water accounts in your name
Register your National Address with SPL as soon as the lease is settled; banks and couriers ask for it. For a SIM, buy from a licensed operator and complete the identity step described by CST.
Then open a bank account and set up utilities. Our newcomers’ basics guide walks through both without quoting fees that change.
Warning
Never share a one-time password with a caller, even one claiming to be your bank or a government office. New residents are a common target.
Week 3: schools and health
Week 3
- School admission rules checked with the Ministry of Education
- Schools visited, documents ready
- The Ministry of Health’s contact options and the emergency numbers in our emergency guide saved in every phone
- Nearest hospital and pharmacy located
Start with the Ministry of Education’s admission page for residents, then visit schools in person. Our schools and tutors checklist covers questions to ask.
The Ministry of Health’s contact options are on moh.gov.sa. Save them alongside the numbers in our emergency guide.
Week 4: learning the city
Settling into the rhythm
1
Learn your bus routes: check the official Makkah Bus app for your district.
2
Test the Friday drive: see how long the trip to the Haram takes around Jumu’ah.
3
Plan Umrah as a resident: book a permit on Nusuk; our Nusuk guide explains how.
4
Find your local spots: masjid, bakery, pharmacy and a reliable maintenance contact.
By now the paperwork should be behind you. The rest is getting to know the city: when the roads are calm, which shops stay open late, and how your street changes in Ramadan. Our Makkah buses guide helps with the first.
What to keep ready all month
Keep these to hand
- Passport and residency details: digital and paper copies.
- Signed lease: the Ejar-registered version.
- National Address: the short code is handy for deliveries.
- Children’s school records: with translations if needed.
FAQ
What is the first thing to do in Makkah?
Get your Absher login working. Many other services depend on it.
Can I register my National Address before I have a lease?
It is easiest once your home is settled, because the address belongs to the building you live in.
How soon should I contact schools?
In the first few weeks. Schools can fill up before the new year starts.
Last checked: 14 October 2026.
Sources
- https://www.absher.sa/
- https://rega.gov.sa/en/rega-services/eservices/register-the-residential-lease-contract/
- https://splonline.com.sa/en/national-address-1/
- https://www.cst.gov.sa/en/services/sim-authentication-code
- https://www.moe.gov.sa/en/education/ResidentsAndvisitors/pages/schoolsadmission.aspx
- https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Pages/default.aspx
- https://apps.apple.com/sa/app/makkah-bus/id1609922603
- https://livinginmakkah.com/bank-account-utilities-makkah-newcomers/
- https://livinginmakkah.com/ejar-rental-contract-makkah-tenants/
- https://livinginmakkah.com/emergency-numbers-hospitals-makkah/
- https://livinginmakkah.com/makkah-buses-guide-for-residents/
- https://livinginmakkah.com/schools-tutors-makkah-checklist/
- https://livinginmakkah.com/umrah-permit-nusuk-makkah-residents/