Last updated: October 2026
Most first-time Umrah planning starts with a packing list from a cousin, a flight plan from a brother and three different explanations of the rites. What is missing is a clear first step. This guide gives you one clear route for Umrah from Pakistan, in order, from departure to completion.
It keeps everything in three simple groups: what to confirm with official sources, what to plan yourself, and what to ask a qualified scholar. Health requirements and visa rules are things to confirm. Your route, packing and family plan are things to plan. Personal religious rulings belong with a scholar.
اردو میں خلاصہ
- عمرہ کی ترتیب یہ ہے: احرام اور تلبیہ، پھر طواف، پھر سعی، اور آخر میں بال کٹوانا یا منڈوانا۔
- پاکستان سے سفر کرنے والے ہر شخص کے لیے، عمر یا پچھلی ویکسینیشن سے قطع نظر، سفر سے پہلے پولیو ویکسین کی کم از کم ایک خوراک لازمی ہے۔
- تمام عمرہ زائرین کے لیے گردن توڑ بخار (ACYW) کی ویکسین ضروری ہے، جو سعودی عرب پہنچنے سے کم از کم 10 دن پہلے لگی ہو۔
- سعی میں صفا سے مروہ تک ایک چکر شمار ہوتا ہے، اور ساتواں چکر مروہ پر ختم ہوتا ہے۔
- میقات آپ کے فلائٹ روٹ کے مطابق ہوتا ہے، اس لیے سفر سے پہلے اپنا میقات معلوم کر لیں۔
- اگر آپ پہلے مدینہ جا رہے ہیں تو فلائٹ میں احرام کی ضرورت نہیں، مدینہ سے مکہ جاتے ہوئے ذوالحلیفہ (ابیار علی) پر احرام باندھیں۔
- نُسک ایپ میں عمرہ پرمٹ اور ریاض الجنہ کا وقت پہلے سے بُک کر لیں۔
- بیگیج کی حد اپنے ٹکٹ پر چیک کریں، اور تمام دستاویزات کی کاغذی کاپی اصل سے الگ رکھیں۔
- خاندان کے لیے ہوٹل یا مسجد کے دروازے کے قریب ملاقات کی ایک جگہ پہلے سے طے کر لیں۔
Key terms in simple words
- Miqat
- The boundary point where a pilgrim must enter the state of ihram. It depends on your travel route.
- Ihram
- The state of worship for Umrah. Men wear two unstitched white garments; women wear ordinary modest clothing.
- Talbiyah
- The words pilgrims recite after making the intention for Umrah, starting from the miqat.
- Tawaf
- Seven circuits around the Kaaba, counterclockwise, with the Kaaba on your left.
- Sa’i
- Walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa.
- Nusuk
- The official Umrah platform of Saudi Arabia, under the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Plan your Umrah from Pakistan in a clear sequence
This guide is for first-time pilgrims, families travelling with older relatives, and anyone planning the journey themselves. It gives you one ordered list instead of ten open tabs. Keep three kinds of advice separate as you plan:
Official requirements
Visa route, fees, deadlines and health rules. These change often, so confirm them with the official Saudi platform and Pakistani travel guidance.
Your own preparation
The order of preparation, your route through the miqat, packing, and how your family stays together.
Personal rulings
Religious questions about your own circumstances belong with a qualified scholar, not with a travel guide.
Before you book anything, check the health requirements and your passport validity. Before you depart, check them again, because requirements can change between seasons. For visa documents, cost and processing time, read our Umrah visa from Pakistan guide.
Planned, confirmed, packed: the three statuses
Booked does not mean ready. A common mistake is to book a full package with flights, hotel and transport, then treat the health certificate as a formality to handle “closer to the date”. The meningitis vaccine must be taken at least 10 days before arrival, so leaving it late can put the whole trip at risk. Give every step one of three statuses:
- Planned: you know what you need and roughly when.
- Confirmed: the document exists, the booking is issued, or the vaccine is given and recorded.
- Packed: the item is physically in your luggage and checked against your list.
Your planning timeline
Each row is a stage. The last column tells you when it is safe to move on.
| Stage | Action | What to have ready | Done when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before booking | Confirm visa route, budget and travel dates through current official channels | Passport validity, intended dates, budget | You know your visa route and the current fee |
| Health certificates | Confirm the required vaccines and certificates with an authorised health provider | Vaccination records, appointment | Certificates issued, with lead times respected |
| Document backup | Photocopy and photograph every key document | Passport, visa, certificates, bookings | Paper and digital copies stored apart from the originals |
| Baggage | Pack ihram garments and daily essentials against a written list | Ihram clothing, modest daily wear, personal items | Every item is packed, not just listed |
| Before flying | Reconfirm flight, hotel and transport details | Booking references, contact numbers | Details match across all confirmations |
| At the miqat | Enter ihram at the point for your route | Ihram garments, intention, awareness of restrictions | You are in ihram before passing the miqat |
| Tawaf | Perform seven circuits around the Kaaba | State of ihram, focus on the rite | Seven circuits complete |
| Sa’i | Walk seven one-way legs between Safa and Marwa | State of ihram, a way to keep count | The seventh leg ends at Marwa |
| Completion | Cut or shave hair and arrange onward plans | Transport and accommodation details | Rites complete and next steps confirmed |
Tip: a general package description on any platform does not confirm your visa eligibility. Check visa and package arrangements through the official Saudi platform, or ask your Umrah agent to confirm in writing.
Documents, bookings and family contacts
A document moves from planned to confirmed only when you hold the proof in hand. It moves to packed only when it is in the bag you will actually carry. Your core list:
- Passport and Umrah visaCheck the visa dates against your airline itinerary before anything else is locked. Flights cannot sit outside the visa window.
- Flight tickets and hotel bookingSave offline copies and keep booking references in one place.
- Vaccination certificatesPolio and meningitis, explained in the health section below.
- Health insurance (optional)Health insurance is optional, not mandatory, for Umrah. If you buy a policy, keep the policy number and helpline with your documents.
- Family contact cardFill it in before departure, print two copies and give one to each adult in the group.
Keep originals and backups in different places. A passport photocopy in your checked bag does not help if that bag is delayed. A scan on your phone does not help if the battery dies. Split them so one lost bag or phone never takes everything with it.
Family contact card
Umrah from Pakistan
Fill in your details, then save the card to your phone or print it. One card for each adult.
Your details stay on your device. Nothing is sent to us. A personal planning aid, not an official or required Saudi document.
2026 & 2027 health requirements for Umrah travellers from Pakistan
The Saudi Ministry of Health publishes its Health Requirements and Recommendations for Travelers to Saudi Arabia for Umrah every season. As of October 2026, the latest published version is for 1447H (2026), and it is the one to follow for travel in late 2026 and 2027 until the Ministry publishes its 1448H update. It sets these conditions:
Meningitis vaccine (all travellers)
Every Umrah traveller from every country needs an ACYW meningitis vaccine. It must be either a conjugate vaccine taken within the last 5 years, or a polysaccharide vaccine taken within the last 3 years. In both cases it must be taken at least 10 days before you arrive. The conjugate vaccine is the more common choice because its five-year validity also covers repeat trips.
Polio vaccine (travellers from Pakistan)
Pakistan is listed, with Afghanistan, in the Ministry’s polio target-country table. Every traveller from Pakistan, regardless of age or past vaccination, must receive at least one dose of oral polio vaccine (bOPV) or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) before travel.
Many families assume their childhood vaccines cover them, then have to rush when the certificate is asked for at the airport. It is not a childhood-schedule question. Book the dose early. The Ministry also recommends, but does not require, that the dose is taken at least 4 weeks before arrival (IPV within the last 12 months, or OPV within the last 6 months).
COVID-19 vaccine (specific groups only)
COVID-19 proof applies only to these groups: people over 65, pregnant women, and people with chronic heart or respiratory disease, chronic kidney failure, hereditary blood disorders, immunodeficiency, cancer or chronic neurological disease. For them, the Ministry accepts one dose of the updated 2025 to 2026 COVID-19 vaccine, a completed primary series (two or more doses) during 2021 to 2024, or laboratory-confirmed recovery during 2025. If you are not in one of these groups, COVID-19 proof is not part of your entry conditions.
Check your certificate: make sure each vaccination certificate clearly shows the vaccine name and the date it was given. The Ministry says that if the meningitis vaccine type is not written on the certificate, it is treated as valid for 3 years only.
Recommended, but not required
- Routine vaccines: be up to date with your routine vaccines, such as diphtheria, tetanus, measles and mumps.
- Seasonal flu vaccine: recommended before travel, but not required.
- In crowds: the Ministry advises wearing a face mask during the rites and in crowded places, and washing your hands often.
- Heat: avoid direct sun where you can and drink plenty of water, especially older pilgrims. Ask your doctor whether any medicine you take (for example, water tablets) needs adjusting for the heat.
Personal health on the journey
Official entry rules are one thing. Your own health during the trip is another. Umrah involves a lot of walking, often in heat, so prepare for it:
- See your doctor before booking flights, not after. Ask about any chronic condition, the heat and the walking load, and request a short medical summary if you may need one abroad.
- Carry medicines in their original packaging with the pharmacy label, plus a written list of names, doses and your doctor’s contact details.
- Do a small pre-departure check: blood pressure if relevant, a dental check if you had recent work, and timing for medicines across time zones.
Tip: keep your medicine and document pouch easy to reach, but never put all original documents and every backup in the same place.
What to pack for the flight, stay and rites
Packing is easier when you think in three bags. Use one simple rule to decide where each item goes: if it went missing for 24 hours, would your trip be in trouble? If yes, keep it with you.
Carry-on: keep it with you
Things you cannot lose or will need at the airport.
- Passport, visa and tickets, plus paper copies kept in a separate pocket
- Vaccination certificates and any medical summary
- Prescription medicines in their original packs
- Ihram garments, so you can change before the miqat
- Phone, charger and power bank
- One change of clothes, in case your suitcase is delayed
Small day bag: for the rites
Light and hands-free. You carry it during Tawaf and Sa’i.
- Unscented soap, toothpaste and wipes (no perfume in ihram)
- Water bottle and tissues
- Pocket Quran or dua book
- Hotel card and family meeting point on paper
- Some Saudi riyals in cash and your ID
- Slippers bag for your shoes inside the mosque
Checked suitcase: everything else
Items you will not need until you reach the hotel.
- Modest everyday clothes for the whole stay
- Comfortable walking shoes, worn in before travel
- Extra ihram set and spare toiletries
- Plug adapter for Saudi sockets
- Lock and name tag on every suitcase
Check your ticket, not a generic list: baggage allowance changes by airline and fare class. Confirm the allowance printed on your own ticket or airline confirmation before you lock the suitcase.
Perform the Umrah rites in order
The sequence is short enough to remember. The details that trip people up sit inside each step: where to enter ihram, how to keep count, and what completes the Umrah. According to Nusuk’s Umrah Journey guide, the order is:
- Step 1Ihram and TalbiyahAt the miqat for your route
- Step 2TawafSeven circuits around the Kaaba
- Step 3Sa’iSeven legs between Safa and Marwa
- Step 4Hair cuttingShave or shorten to complete Umrah
Other practices, such as brisk walking in the first three circuits of Tawaf for men, uncovering the right shoulder, jogging in the green area during Sa’i and gesturing towards the Black Stone, are Sunnah practices. They carry reward but do not change the four steps. Knowing the order before you leave means that when you are tired and in a crowd, the sequence is already settled.
Book your Umrah permit on Nusuk: the Umrah permit gives you a time slot to perform Umrah at Masjid al-Haram. At this time it is not mandatory, but it is free and easy to book in the Nusuk app, and we recommend every pilgrim books one before going for Umrah.
Miqat, intention, Talbiyah and entering ihram
Ihram is a state of worship. The clothing is part of it, but the state is the point. Men wear two unstitched garments; women stay in ordinary modest clothing. The state begins at the miqat, and the miqat depends on your route. A pilgrim flying from Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad may not pass the same point as someone travelling from Riyadh or Jeddah.
Confirm the miqat for your flight before departure. Many airlines announce it on board, and your Umrah agent should tell you in advance. Make the intention for Umrah at or before the miqat and begin the Talbiyah from there.
Changing on a plane is difficult, so many pilgrims flying to Jeddah put on their ihram garments at home or at the airport in Pakistan, and make the intention when the miqat is announced.
Flying to Madinah first? If your flight lands in Madinah and you stay there before Makkah, you do not need ihram on the flight. You enter ihram later, at the Madinah miqat, Dhul Hulaifah (also called Abyar Ali), on the way from Madinah to Makkah. Tell your Umrah agent your route so your ihram plan matches it.
Tip: write down your route, the miqat where you will enter ihram, and who to ask if your itinerary changes. Do not wait until after the miqat to ask.
Once you are in ihram, the main things to avoid are:
- Perfume and scented soap, cream or wipes
- Cutting hair or nails
- For men: stitched clothing and covering the head
- For women: face veil (niqab) and gloves
- Marital relations, arguing and hunting
Pack unscented toiletries in advance. Scholars differ on some details of these restrictions, so ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.
Tawaf: seven circuits, and how to keep count
Tawaf is seven counterclockwise circuits with the Kaaba on your left. Make wudu before you start, because you need to be in a state of wudu for Tawaf. Each circuit starts and ends at the corner of the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad), marked by a green light on the mosque wall facing it. The circuits look alike and the crowd pulls your attention, so counting is where most people struggle. The first three circuits usually hold your focus, the middle ones blur, and doubt arrives near the end.
A simple fix is a seven-box strip on a small card or phone note. Mark one box only after a full circuit is complete, never when you think you are about to finish it.
Sunnah practices sit alongside the count, not inside it. Men may uncover the right shoulder and walk briskly in the first three circuits, and a pilgrim may gesture towards the Black Stone when in line with it. None of these changes the count. Crowd safety comes first: if the area is dense, slow down, keep your group close and let the strip do the remembering.
After Tawaf: pray two rak’ah, behind Maqam Ibrahim if there is space or anywhere in the mosque if it is crowded, then drink Zamzam water before walking to Safa for Sa’i.
Sa’i: count seven one-way legs from Safa to Marwa
Sa’i is counted in one-way legs. Safa to Marwa is leg one, and the seventh leg ends at Marwa. Many people double the distance by counting round trips, which is why the one-way rule matters.
- 1Safa to Marwa
- 2Marwa to Safa
- 3Safa to Marwa
- 4Marwa to Safa
- 5Safa to Marwa
- 6Marwa to Safa
- 7Safa to Marwa, ends here
Men jog in the marked green area between the two green lights, and signs on site show where it starts and ends. Slow your counting there rather than speeding up. Mobility needs change the pace, not the count: a wheelchair, a walking aid or tiredness may slow the legs, but there are still seven.
Hair cutting or shaving to complete Umrah
Hair cutting or shaving follows Tawaf and Sa’i and completes the Umrah. According to Nusuk, men may shave the whole head or shorten the hair, and women trim 1 to 2 cm from the ends. Nusuk also notes that you may wait until you return to your accommodation, but the restrictions of ihram remain until the hair is cut. If you are unsure about the timing or method, ask a qualified scholar.
Visiting Madinah and the Rawdah
Most groups from Pakistan also spend a few days in Madinah to pray at Masjid an-Nabawi. This visit is not part of the Umrah rites, but it is a highlight of the trip. To pray in the Rawdah (Riyad ul Jannah), you need a time slot booked in the Nusuk app. Slots fill up quickly, so book as soon as your Madinah dates are confirmed, and arrive at the gate a little before your time.
Tips for families and first-time pilgrims
A lost count is easier to fix than a lost person. Plan how your family will stay together before you enter any crowd.
Set a family meeting point and a separation plan
- Pick one fixed meeting pointChoose a spot near your hotel or mosque exit that a child or a tired adult can find without a map, such as a numbered gate, a shop sign or a fountain.
- Put it on paperWrite the hotel name, address and emergency number on a card, in Arabic and English if you can. Give a copy to every adult and older child.
- Agree the go-and-wait ruleWhoever notices a separation first goes to the meeting point and waits. No one searches alone, no one goes back into the crowd, and no child is sent to look for an adult.
A family that keeps the mosque layout and hotel address only on a phone has no plan once the battery runs out. The best family plan is the one that still works when every screen is dark.
Example: a family of five is near the end of Sa’i. The father has the only working phone, at four percent battery. The teenage daughter stops to fix her sandal and loses sight of the family. Because the plan was agreed at the hotel, she walks to the meeting point near the Marwa exit and waits. Ten minutes later her mother arrives with the paper card, and they rejoin the group. The meeting point and the paper card do the work the phone could not.
Common mistakes and what to do instead
Everyone relies on one phone for maps, contacts and meeting details.
Put the hotel address and meeting point on paper and give a copy to at least two adults.
Someone loses count during Tawaf or Sa’i and rushes forward to catch up.
Pause at the edge of the flow and continue from the last completed circuit or leg. Pausing keeps the count recoverable; rushing risks losing it.
A family member wanders off to find a better view or a shorter route.
Agree before entering that no one leaves the group without saying where they are going and when they will be back.
Safety first: if the crowd makes a practice unsafe, pause and follow the official signs or your group leader instead of pushing through to finish a count.
Your Umrah checklists
Tap each box as you finish an item; the counter at the bottom shows how many are done. Only tick an item when it is truly done, not just planned. These are personal memory aids, not official forms.
Before you leave Pakistan
Documents
Health
Bags
Plan
items ticked out of 11
On the day of Umrah
steps done out of 8
If you get separated: go to the meeting point and wait. Do not go back into the crowd to search.
Printable Umrah readiness card
Save this card to your phone or print it and keep it in a pocket. The Sa’i strip has seven boxes, not fourteen, because each box is one one-way leg.
Umrah readiness card
Keep it in your pocket
1. Status
2. Family meeting point
3. Pakistan polio reminder
4. Rites count strip
Ihram and Talbiyah, then:
Personal memory aid, not an official document. Your details stay on your device.
Official sources to check before you travel
When a detail changes, you need to know which source owns it:
- Saudi Ministry of Health, Umrah 1447H (2026) health document: vaccine requirements, including the polio dose for Pakistan.
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Umrah and Visit Guide: the official English guide for pilgrims.
- Nusuk, Umrah Journey: the order of the rites (ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i, then hair cutting). Package details on Nusuk describe what packages can include, not what any one traveller is eligible for.
You do not need to memorise everything at once; the checklists carry the load until departure. Two weeks before travel, check the health document and the Hajj and Umrah guide again for updates. For personal religious questions, ask a qualified scholar: this guide tells you what to confirm and plan, and your scholar tells you what applies to you.
Want one team to handle the details? At Travel with AZM, an IATA accredited travel agency in Rawalpindi, our complete Umrah packages combine the visa, flights, hotel and transport, or you can request a hotel quote for Makkah and Madinah or a flight quote from Pakistan separately.
Plan your Umrah with an IATA accredited agent
Tell us your travel dates on WhatsApp and our team will reply with package options and next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a polio vaccine for Umrah from Pakistan?
Yes. Pakistan is in the Saudi Ministry of Health’s 1447H (2026) polio target-country table, so every traveller from Pakistan, regardless of age or past vaccination, needs at least one dose of bOPV or IPV before travel. Confirm the exact dose, certificate and timing with an authorised health provider.
Which meningitis vaccine is required for Umrah?
An ACYW meningitis vaccine is required for all Umrah travellers. A conjugate vaccine taken within the last 5 years, or a polysaccharide vaccine taken within the last 3 years, is accepted. In both cases it must be taken at least 10 days before arrival.
How do I count Sa’i correctly?
Count seven one-way legs, not seven round trips. Safa to Marwa is leg one, Marwa to Safa is leg two, and so on. The seventh leg ends at Marwa.
What is the correct order of the Umrah rites?
Ihram and Talbiyah, then Tawaf, then Sa’i, then hair cutting or shaving. Sunnah practices sit alongside this sequence but do not change the four steps.
What should I pack in carry-on versus checked luggage?
Keep your passport, health certificates, medicines, ihram garments and phone in your carry-on. Bulk clothing and spares can be checked. A small day bag should hold unscented hygiene items, prayer materials, your phone and charger, and tissues.
How should a family handle separation in crowds?
Agree on one fixed meeting point near the hotel or mosque exit before entering any crowd. Give every adult and older child a paper card with the hotel name, address and emergency number. Whoever notices the separation first goes to the meeting point and waits.
Where do I find the miqat for my flight from Pakistan?
The miqat depends on your route, so confirm it before departure. Many airlines announce it on board, and your Umrah agent should tell you in advance. Enter ihram before passing it. If you fly to Madinah first, you enter ihram at Dhul Hulaifah (Abyar Ali) on the way to Makkah.
Can a woman perform Umrah without a mahram?
Yes. In 2026, women can apply for an Umrah visa and perform Umrah without a mahram, on their own or with a group. See our Umrah visa guide for the documents.
Is health insurance required for Umrah?
No. Health insurance is optional, not mandatory, for Umrah from Pakistan. Many pilgrims still choose a policy for medical emergencies. If you buy one, keep the policy number and helpline with your documents.
Which health rules apply if I travel in 2027?
Follow the latest Saudi Ministry of Health Umrah document. As of October 2026 that is the 1447H (2026) version, which stays in use until the Ministry publishes its 1448H update. Check again two weeks before you travel.
Do I need to book anything in the Nusuk app?
We recommend booking your Umrah permit (a time slot for Umrah at Masjid al-Haram), which is free and currently not mandatory. If you visit Madinah, you need a Nusuk booking to pray in the Rawdah.
This guide reflects Umrah health requirements and guidance as of October 2026. Saudi rules and procedures change often. Please confirm the latest requirements with official sources or our team before you travel, and ask a qualified scholar about personal religious rulings.
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