Living in Makkah, you will meet first-timers all the time: a cousin on a visit, new colleagues, or you yourself on your first Umrah since moving here. The same questions come up every time. What exactly is Umrah, what are the steps, and what do you need to sort out before leaving home?
This guide follows how the official Nusuk platform and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah describe Umrah. It is practical, not a book of rulings. For questions about your own situation, please ask a qualified scholar.
Quick answer
Short answer: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah describes Umrah as visiting the Sacred House to perform tawaf and sa’i. Nusuk lists four parts: entering ihram from the miqat with the intention, seven circuits of tawaf, seven laps of sa’i between Safa and Marwah, and finishing by shaving or shortening the hair. Before you go, book your Umrah permit on Nusuk; the Ministry lists the permit service as free.
What is Umrah?
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah explains that the word Umrah means a visit, and that Umrah involves visiting the Sacred House, tawaf and sa’i. Unlike Hajj, it is not tied to set days. Both the Ministry and Nusuk say it can be performed at any time of year.
The one big exception is the Hajj season. Nusuk notes that during Hajj there are organisational arrangements under which entry to Makkah is reserved for pilgrims. If a guest wants to come around Hajj, check the current rules on Nusuk before booking anything.
Umrah at a glance
- Four parts (Nusuk): ihram, tawaf, sa’i, then shaving or shortening the hair.
- Timing: any time of year, with special arrangements during the Hajj season.
- Permit: booked through the Nusuk app or website; the Ministry lists the cost as free.
- Login: the Ministry’s service page says you sign in with Nafath.
Before you start: the permit
Everyone needs an Umrah permit with a date and time slot. The Ministry’s permit service page lists visitors, GCC citizens, citizens and residents as eligible, Nusuk as the channel, and the cost as free.
We have a full walkthrough for residents in our Umrah permit on Nusuk guide, so we won’t repeat every screen here. In short, you sign in, choose the Umrah permit service, pick a date and an available time, and issue the permit.
Tip
Book the permit before anything else, then plan your day around its time slot. A guest arriving late at night may be happier with a slot the next morning.
Umrah steps, as Nusuk describes them
Nusuk’s section on how Umrah is performed sets out the steps in this order. We give them as Nusuk describes them, in plain words.
The four steps of Umrah
1
Ihram: enter the state of ihram from the designated miqat, with the intention in your heart and spoken.
2
Tawaf: go around the Kaaba seven times, starting from the Black Stone, remembering Allah in each circuit.
3
Sa’i: walk seven laps between Safa and Marwah, starting at Safa and finishing at Marwah.
4
Shaving or shortening: finish with shaving or shortening the hair. Nusuk’s FAQ says men shave or shorten, and women shorten only.
Nusuk also asks pilgrims to learn the steps and their rules before travelling. Its app has Umrah guides for this. If you are unsure about any detail, such as what to do if something goes wrong mid-way, ask a scholar rather than relying on social media.
The miqat: where ihram begins
Nusuk lists the miqats, including Dhul Hulayfah for people coming from Madinah, Al-Juhfah, Qarn al-Manazil and Yalamlam. Each traveller enters ihram when they reach or pass level with their miqat.
The Ministry adds a point many flying guests miss: King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah is not a miqat or a place to enter ihram. Guests flying in should plan their ihram before landing.
For residents
If you already live in Makkah, where you enter ihram for Umrah is a question for a scholar. Ask before the day, not at the gate.
On the day at the Haram
A few practical points from Nusuk’s FAQ help on the day itself:
- Gates: the Grand Mosque has gates set aside for people performing Umrah. Nusuk suggests asking the security staff which ones to use.
- Mobility: manual and electric carts and golf carts are available, with their own routes. See our wheelchairs and electric carts guide.
- Children: Nusuk says children are allowed to perform Umrah, and pushchairs are allowed in.
- Finishing: Nusuk points to licensed barbershops around the Haram and advises clean, sterilised tools.
What Nusuk suggests packing
- Passport, vaccination certificates and permits
- Medicines for the length of your trip, with prescriptions
- Ihram clothing, plus clothes for afterwards
- Comfortable shoes for long walks
- Phone and charger
How long does Umrah take?
Neither Nusuk nor the Ministry gives an official duration, so we don’t give one either. It depends on crowds, the time of day and your health. Nusuk suggests walking for at least half an hour a day before your Umrah date to prepare.
| Stage | What to do | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Before | Book the permit, learn the steps, prepare ihram | Nusuk app or website |
| During | Ihram, tawaf, sa’i | Nusuk Umrah guides |
| After | Shave or shorten at a licensed shop | Nusuk FAQ |
Hosting first-timers
If family are coming to you for their first Umrah, help with the permit, a quiet first night and a realistic plan for elderly relatives. Our guide to hosting Umrah guests covers rooms, meals and the practical side.
FAQ
What are the steps of Umrah?
Nusuk lists ihram from the miqat, seven circuits of tawaf, seven laps of sa’i, then shaving or shortening the hair.
Does the Umrah permit cost money?
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lists the Nusuk Umrah permit service as free.
Can I do Umrah more than once a year?
Nusuk says you may, as long as you follow the organisational rules.
Last checked: 24 October 2026, against the official Nusuk Umrah page and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah website.
Sources
- https://www.nusuk.sa/umrah
- https://haj.gov.sa/en/Umrah
- https://haj.gov.sa/en/E-Services/Umrah-Permit-Application
- https://livinginmakkah.com/umrah-permit-nusuk-makkah-residents/
- https://livinginmakkah.com/hosting-umrah-guests-makkah-residents/
- https://livinginmakkah.com/wheelchairs-electric-carts-masjid-al-haram/