Preferred trade partner of Saudi Tourism Authority
Chat with us
Read latest news, guides and necessities about Hajj and Umrah.
Performing Umrah is one of the most meaningful acts of worship in a Muslim’s life. But alongside spiritual preparation — making niyyah, learning the steps of Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i — you also have to prepare financially.
If you’re travelling from the UK in 2025 or 2026, you’ve probably already asked yourself: “How much will Umrah actually cost me?” You’re not alone.
The truth: Umrah is not one fixed price. Your Umrah expense depends on when you travel, how you fly, where you stay in Makkah and Madinah, how long you stay, and how much convenience you want (for example, walking-distance hotels near Masjid al-Haram versus cheaper hotels that require a shuttle).
In this full breakdown, we’ll walk you through actual cost components — flights, visas, hotels, transport, food, and daily spend — using current UK-to-Saudi pricing trends for 2025 and early 2026, plus on-the-ground expectations for accommodation. We’ll also explain where you can save money without lowering the quality of your experience.
At LoveUmrah.com, we help UK pilgrims book verified hotels in Makkah and Madinah with transparent, tax-inclusive rates. That means no hidden “agency fees” and no vague “inbox me for price.” You see what you’re paying for. This is important, because accommodation is one of the biggest variables in your total Umrah cost.
Let’s build your budget properly, category by category.
Your overall Umrah expense usually comes from:
Visa
Flights
Hotels (Makkah + Madinah)
Local transport (airport to Makkah/Madinah and between the two cities)
Food and daily spending
Extras (Ziyarat tours, SIM card, gifts, etc.)
Below, we’ll go through each one, give you realistic price ranges, and then show you a sample “total trip budget” so you can estimate how much Umrah will cost you in 2025–2026.
Most UK pilgrims travel on either:
An Umrah visa issued via an approved agent, OR
A Saudi tourist eVisa, which (for Muslims) also allows Umrah outside Hajj season if you declare Umrah as your purpose of visit.
Saudi Arabia currently issues a tourist visa that can be valid for multiple entries (often one year validity, with up to 90 days stay per entry). Typical fees for UK travellers are in the range of roughly £100–£150, including mandatory medical insurance that Saudi Arabia bundles into the visa. That insurance generally covers emergency medical care (including certain COVID-related costs) during your stay. hajjumrahhub.co.uk+1
Important:
The tourist visa is not a work visa. You cannot legally work in Saudi Arabia on it.
You can perform Umrah on the tourist visa if you are Muslim and you clearly indicate Umrah as part of your trip. Saudi’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has stated that Muslims with valid Saudi visas are permitted to perform Umrah outside Hajj, as part of Saudi Arabia’s broader move to make the pilgrimage more accessible.
Hajj is still separate. You cannot perform Hajj using a tourist visa.
When budgeting:
👉 Plan ~£100–£150 per person for visa + basic insurance.
Your flights are usually the single biggest upfront cost after hotels.
From the UK, you’ll typically fly into:
Jeddah (King Abdulaziz International Airport) for Makkah, or
Madinah (Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport) if you want to start in Madinah first.
For 2025–2026, realistic return flight pricing from London to Jeddah is often in the range of £500–£700 return in economy, especially with mainstream carriers like Saudia, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, British Airways, etc., when booked sensibly in advance (often 1–3 months out). Recent fare searches for London–Jeddah economy returns show round-trips in the ~$400–$700 USD band (roughly £330–£580), with higher prices during peak periods such as Ramadan, December holidays, and UK school breaks. expedia+2KAYAK+2
There are also emerging ultra–low-cost options. Wizz Air, for example, has announced long-haul style budget operations linking London Gatwick and Jeddah using the new Airbus A321XLR, with advertised one-way fares starting from about £134.99. This increased competition is expected to push some Jeddah fares down for UK travellers from 2025 onward. The Sun
Practical flight budgeting:
Off-peak (Jan–March, Sep–Nov): You may find return tickets closer to the lower end of the range.
Peak (Ramadan, December holidays): Expect the higher end or even above £700 return if you book late. Flights historically spike around Ramadan and school holidays because demand surges. KAYAK+1
Regional airports (Manchester, Birmingham): Often slightly higher than London unless you catch a promo, but indirect routes via Istanbul/Doha can still be competitive. Some published fare guides for UK-to-Madinah routes show £500–£850 economy return via one-stop carriers like Turkish, Qatar, or Emirates. umrahone.co.uk
When budgeting:
👉 Plan ~£500–£700 per person return for flights (economy), assuming you’re not travelling in peak Ramadan or last-minute December.
If you’re very flexible and willing to fly indirect or with an ultra low-cost carrier, you may come under that.
Accommodation is where your Umrah expense can change the most. Two main variables affect price:
Distance to the Haram (Masjid al-Haram in Makkah / Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah)
Star rating / comfort level
Here’s a general nightly guide based on current market ranges for 2025:
5★ luxury hotels very close to the Haram (Makkah):
Around £150–£250+ per night for a double room.
These are often in or next to the main hotel towers by Masjid al-Haram, with Kaaba or Haram-view rooms at a premium. These hotels are popular with elderly parents and families who want minimal walking. (Premium proximity drives cost.) hajjumrahhub.co.uk
4★ / strong mid-range hotels:
Around £80–£150 per night.
These are usually still walkable or a short shuttle ride. They offer good cleanliness, breakfast, Wi-Fi, and family-friendly layouts. Many UK pilgrims choose this tier because it balances comfort and cost.
3★ and budget hotels (often with shuttle service instead of direct walking distance):
Around £40–£80 per night.
These hotels can be slightly further out, but the price savings are significant, especially for longer stays or group travel.
These ranges apply in both Makkah and Madinah, but Madinah is sometimes slightly cheaper outside peak season. Demand spikes during Ramadan and around school breaks, which can push even mid-range rooms toward luxury pricing.
Why booking through a verified source matters: Saudi authorities now expect Umrah travellers to have confirmed accommodation and sometimes transport details pre-booked when applying for their visa, to reduce crowding and false hotel claims.
Platforms like LoveUmrah.com list verified hotels in Makkah and Madinah with final, tax-inclusive pricing, so you know exactly what you’ll pay and you can prove your booking on arrival.
When budgeting hotels for a typical 7–10 night Umrah:
Budget style (3★ / shuttle): ~£40–£80 per night → ~£280–£800 total
Mid-range (4★): ~£90–£150 per night → ~£630–£1,050 total
Premium (5★ near Haram): ~£180–£250+ per night → ~£1,260–£2,500+ total
👉 You can see how hotel choice alone can move your Umrah budget by over £1,000 for the exact same number of nights.
Transport typically includes:
Airport to hotel in Makkah or Madinah
Transfer between Makkah and Madinah (if you’re visiting both cities)
Local movement if your hotel is not right next to Haram
Private cars or pre-booked transfers from Jeddah Airport to Makkah, or between Makkah and Madinah, usually fall in the £40–£80 per vehicle range depending on vehicle size, timing, and whether you’re sharing with family. This cost is often split across 2–4 travellers, so per-person cost may be quite low.
If you’re travelling as a family or group, arranging private transport in advance is often cheaper and calmer than negotiating last-minute with drivers after a long-haul flight. Some approved Umrah/visa providers and hotel platforms now offer bundled hotel + transfer options precisely for this reason.
When budgeting:
👉 Assume £50–£100 per person to cover airport pickup, intercity travel, and local shuttles comfortably.
Food in Saudi Arabia can be very affordable if you eat like a local and don’t rely only on hotel buffets.
Expected daily spend per person:
If you mainly eat in the hotel restaurant/buffet: ~£15–£25 per day
If you eat in local food courts / casual restaurants: ~£8–£15 per day
Tea, bottled water, fresh juice, shawarma, rice dishes, and bakery snacks are widely available around the Haram areas in both Makkah and Madinah.
Also check if breakfast is included in your hotel rate. Many 4★ and some 5★ hotels include breakfast, which can cover your early meal after Fajr and reduce how much you spend the rest of the day.
When budgeting:
👉 For a 7–10 day trip, set aside ~£100–£200 per person for meals, snacks, Zamzam-safe bottles, small toiletries, prayer mats, modest gifts, etc.
Other common costs:
Ziyarat tours (historical / religious sites in Makkah and Madinah): often £10–£25 per person in a group setting.
Local SIM / eSIM with data: ~£10–£20 depending on data allowance.
Ihram (for men), abayas, gifts, Qurans: totally personal, but many people budget an extra £50–£100.
These aren’t mandatory, but they’re common.
Let’s assume:
You’re travelling from the UK outside peak Ramadan/December
You’re staying ~9 nights total (Makkah + Madinah)
You’re choosing a solid mid-range hotel, not ultra-luxury, not hostel-level
You book flights in advance, not last minute
Visa (incl. basic insurance)
~£120
(Saudi tourist/Umrah visa fees commonly fall in the £100–£150 range and include required medical insurance.) hajjumrahhub.co.uk+1
Flights (return UK → Jeddah/Madinah)
~£550
(UK to Jeddah economy returns often fall in the £500–£700 band, and indirect flights via Istanbul/Doha can be cheaper. Budget carriers like Wizz Air are introducing sub-£150 one-way fares on Gatwick–Jeddah from 2025, which can push the average down if you’re flexible.) expedia+2KAYAK+2
Hotels (4★ / mid-range, ~£110 per night x 9 nights)
~£990
(£90–£150 per night is typical for quality mid-range properties that are either walking distance to Haram or offer frequent shuttle access.)
Local transport / transfers
~£70
(Private/shared transport between airport ↔ Makkah ↔ Madinah often works out to around £40–£80 total per traveller if shared sensibly.)
Meals, snacks, small essentials
~£150
(£8–£15/day for local food or £15–£25/day for hotel dining, across ~9 days.)
Total Estimated Umrah Expense (Per Person)
→ ~£1,880 per person
for a comfortable, mid-range 9-night Umrah with flexible flights, confirmed hotels, private transfers, and daily meals.
If you go more budget-conscious (cheaper hotel at £50/night, flexible indirect flights, sharing rooms with family), it’s realistic to land closer to ~£1,100–£1,400 per person for a shorter 7–8 day Umrah, which aligns with published low-end Umrah package marketing in the UK showing budget-friendly headline prices. hajjumrahhub.co.uk+1
If you go premium (5★ Kaaba-view hotel at £200+ per night, peak-season direct flights, private car everywhere), your total can rise above £2,000 per person very quickly — and many luxury pilgrims are comfortable with that because proximity to Masjid al-Haram means less physical strain for elderly parents.
When planning Umrah from the UK, you have two main approaches:
A traditional Umrah package usually includes:
Visa processing
Flights
Hotels in Makkah + Madinah
Ground transfers (airport ↔ hotel ↔ intercity)
Sometimes guided Ziyarat tours
This option is popular for first-timers and elderly travellers because everything is handed to you. Some UK agencies publish 3★, 4★, and 5★ packages and market all-in prices starting from the mid-hundreds for very short stays (often 3–5 nights), with higher prices for longer, higher-star packages. hajjumrahhub.co.uk
Pros of a package:
You don’t have to coordinate anything yourself.
Good for older relatives who want group support.
You get “one number to call” if anything goes wrong.
Cons of a package:
Less control over hotel choice and exact walking distance to the Haram.
You may pay agency markups.
Group timings can feel rushed.
For many UK pilgrims, full agency packages end up around £1,300–£2,000+ per person, depending on hotel category and trip length. hajjumrahhub.co.uk+1
In a DIY setup:
You apply for the tourist/Umrah visa yourself.
You book your own flights.
You book your own hotels.
This approach can save money — sometimes hundreds of pounds per person — because you’re choosing dates, airlines, and hotels that match your budget, not just accepting what’s in a pre-built package.
The trade-off is responsibility. You must also make sure your accommodation proof, transport details, and visa details line up, because Saudi immigration now expects pilgrims (especially Umrah travellers) to show confirmed bookings and transport.
This is exactly where a platform like LoveUmrah.com is useful for independent travellers:
You get verified hotels in Makkah and Madinah with transparent, tax-inclusive pricing.
You get instant confirmation you can show for your visa / entry.
You’re not guessing distance to Haram — you see real, pilgrim-relevant details.
You can choose budget, mid-range, or premium hotels instead of being locked into whatever a package operator prefers.
For confident travellers who don’t mind booking flights + hotels themselves, DIY Umrah can bring the per-person total into the £900–£1,500 range (shorter stay, smart flight timing, shared rooms), which is noticeably lower than many full-service packages. hajjumrahhub.co.uk+1
Prices for both flights and hotels spike during Ramadan, December holidays, and UK school breaks. Fare trackers show London–Jeddah flights are significantly cheaper in off-peak months (for example January and certain shoulder periods), while December and Ramadan see higher averages. KAYAK+1
If cost matters, aim for January–March or September–November instead of Ramadan or Christmas break.
Data from major travel search and airline reporting sources shows that booking international flights weeks in advance can save money versus last-minute purchase. Some analyses suggest that booking 1–2+ months ahead can reduce long-haul fares by ~10–20%. expedia+1
Don’t wait until two weeks before departure unless you’re prepared to pay peak prices.
A lot of pilgrims assume only 5★ tower hotels next to the Haram are “good.” In reality, many 4★ properties offer excellent cleanliness, breakfast, prayer-friendly timings, and shuttle access — at half the nightly rate. With LoveUmrah.com you can compare those verified options transparently instead of guessing.
Instead of booking two separate doubles, consider a triple or quad room if travelling as a family. This reduces the per-person nightly rate and can drop your total Umrah expense significantly over a 7–10 day stay. Many hotels in Makkah and Madinah are set up for multi-bed rooms because they expect families and groups.
Saudi authorities increasingly expect Umrah visitors to show confirmed hotel and transport details. If you try to do everything last-minute, you’ll pay more and you’ll stress more. Pre-booked, verified accommodation also makes your visa/entry smoother.
A 7–8 day Umrah is common for cost control. A 10–12 day Umrah feels more relaxed but adds hotel nights, meal costs, and local transport. Be honest about what you can comfortably afford — spiritual value does not depend on spending extra days if those days create financial pressure later.
Umrah is worship. It’s not a luxury holiday. At the same time, your body, your parents, and your peace of mind matter.
For some families, paying more for a hotel right next to Masjid al-Haram in Makkah is absolutely worth it — less walking for elderly parents, easier access for Fajr and Tahajjud, and less physical strain overall. For others, saving £500–£800 by staying slightly further away (with a regular shuttle) means the difference between “we can go this year” and “maybe next year.”
From the UK, most pilgrims should expect:
A realistic spend in the £1,100–£1,900 per person range
Flight prices that reward early booking and off-peak timing
Hotel costs that completely change the final total depending on distance and star rating
A need for proof of booked accommodation and transport in 2025–2026 as Saudi tightens entry and crowd management for Umrah pilgrims.
The best way to stay in control of your Umrah expense is to be transparent with yourself about what matters most:
Is it walking distance to the Haram?
Is it total trip cost?
Is it comfort for elderly parents?
Is it off-peak calm instead of Ramadan crowds?
Once you know that, the rest becomes planning — not stress.
Your journey of faith starts here.
Travel prepared. Travel honestly. Travel with ease.
If you’re ready to plan Umrah for 2025–2026, compare verified Makkah and Madinah hotels (with all-inclusive pricing and instant confirmation you can use for your visa) at LoveUmrah.com. This is where clarity begins.
Sources (with hyperlinks)
Saudi eVisa / tourist visa overview: validity, multiple entry up to ~1 year, 90 days per stay, tourist visa also permitting Umrah for Muslim travellers, and 6-month passport validity requirement. (VisitSaudi / Saudi eVisa platform; Ministry of Hajj & Umrah statements) hajjumrahhub.co.uk+1
https://visa.visitsaudi.com
https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/middle-east/saudi-arabia
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visit/all-types-of-visa-holders-now-eligible-to-perform-umrah-in-saudi-arabia/articleshow/124330849.cms
Flight pricing trends for UK → Jeddah / Madinah, including typical £500–£700 economy returns, cheaper off-peak fares, and the impact of new low-cost long-haul options such as Wizz Air’s planned London Gatwick–Jeddah service with fares from ~£134.99 one way in 2025; higher fares in Ramadan/December. The Sun+3expedia+3KAYAK+3
https://www.expedia.com/lp/flights/lhr/jed/london-to-jeddah
https://www.kayak.com/flight-routes/London-LON/Jeddah-King-Abdulaziz-Intl-JED
https://www.skyscanner.com/routes/lond/jed/london-to-jeddah.html
https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/30414594/long-haul-budget-flights-new-aircraft/
UK Umrah package marketing ranges and per-person budget expectations (3★ to 5★), including typical £1,300–£2,000+ agency packages and ~£900–£1,500 achievable via DIY (flight + visa + hotel booked directly), depending on chosen stay length and hotel class. hajjumrahhub.co.uk+2umrahone.co.uk+2
https://www.hajjumrahhub.co.uk/umrah-packages-2025.html
https://umrahone.co.uk/flights
https://www.umrahme.com/packages/en-us/umrah-packages-from-major-uk-cities-booking
Hotel cost impact and proximity to Haram: premium hotels near Masjid al-Haram often £150–£250+ per night; mid-range ~£80–£150; budget ~£40–£80 with shuttle, and Saudi’s move toward requiring pre-booked accommodation and local transport details as part of Umrah/entry compliance for 2025–2026.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visit/all-types-of-visa-holders-now-eligible-to-perform-umrah-in-saudi-arabia/articleshow/124330849.cms
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/new-visa-rules-for-umrah-2025-saudi-arabia-makes-hotel-and-transport-pre-booking-mandatory-forvisaapproval/articleshow/124195721.cms
Exit deadlines, overstay warnings, and the requirement to leave Saudi Arabia once your permitted stay is over — especially around and after Hajj/Umrah peak seasons.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/latest-updates/saudi-arabia-urges-pilgrims-to-leave-before-hajj-visa-expiry-warns-of-legal-action-for-overstay/articleshow/121769677.cms