For UAE residents, Umrah is among the most frequently made journeys of all — a short flight to Jeddah or Madinah, and a pilgrimage many make more than once. What has changed in recent years is the route rather than the ritual: Saudi Arabia has widened the ways in which pilgrims may enter, and the dedicated Umrah visa is no longer the only path. At Green Apple Travel & Tourism, a Dubai travel house since 2012, we handle Umrah travel for UAE residents alongside our wider Saudi visa work. This guide sets out what the Saudi authorities require, so that the arrangements can be made calmly and well ahead of time.
Do You Need a Dedicated Umrah Visa?
Not necessarily — and this is the most useful thing to know before you plan.
Saudi Arabia's tourist visa expressly permits the holder to perform Umrah, alongside ordinary tourism, events and family visits. Hajj is excluded and remains an entirely separate process. So a traveller who already holds, or is eligible for, a Saudi tourist visa may be able to perform Umrah without applying for a dedicated Umrah visa at all.
The dedicated Umrah visa route also continues to operate, and remains the appropriate path for many pilgrims — particularly those travelling as part of an organised group. Which is right for you depends on your nationality, your existing Saudi visa if you hold one, and the shape of the trip.
Nusuk — Permits, and What They Are Not
The Nusuk Umrah platform is the official channel overseen by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, through which Umrah and Ziyarah arrangements and permits are managed.
It is worth separating two things that are often confused. A visa is permission to enter the Kingdom. A permit is a booked slot to perform the rites. Holding one does not automatically give you the other, and pilgrims occasionally arrive holding a valid visa while assuming their permit arrangements are complete. Both need to be in order before you travel, and both are part of what we arrange.
| Your situation | What normally applies |
|---|---|
| Holding an eligible Saudi tourist visa | Umrah permitted on that visa — Hajj is not |
| Travelling with an organised Umrah group | Dedicated Umrah visa route, arranged through the group |
| GCC national | Entry arrangements differ — ask us |
| Intending to perform Hajj | An entirely separate process, not covered by these routes |
Health Requirements
Saudi Arabia requires pilgrims to provide proof of vaccination against meningitis (ACWY). The published guidance is that the quadrivalent vaccine should be administered at least ten days before arrival.
That ten-day window is the reason we raise health requirements at the start of planning rather than at the end. A vaccination taken too close to departure does not meet the requirement, and it is not something that can be corrected at the airport. Additional health requirements may apply depending on your country of origin and the season, and these are reviewed and updated by the Saudi authorities.
Women Travelling for Umrah
This is an area where travellers receive a great deal of conflicting information, so we will be precise about what is published and what is not.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's published requirements state that women travelling for Umrah should be accompanied by a mahram, with an exception for women over the age of 45 travelling with an organised group, who may travel without a mahram on providing a no-objection letter from a husband, son or brother authorising travel with that named group.
We should be straightforward with you: this is an area in which published guidance and current practice have moved in recent years, and reports of the position vary. Rather than assert a rule that may have changed, we confirm the position that applies to your specific booking before you commit to anything. If you are planning travel for a woman in your family without a mahram, tell us early and we will establish where matters stand.
Documents Required
- Passport valid well beyond your intended travel, with blank pages.
- UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, valid beyond your travel dates.
- Recent passport-style photograph on a plain background.
- Proof of meningitis (ACWY) vaccination, administered within the required window before arrival.
- Confirmed roundtrip flight booking. The Saudi requirements specify a confirmed roundtrip reservation, and for the Umrah route this is not merely a supporting document.
- Confirmed accommodation in Makkah and Madinah for the nights of your stay.
- No-objection letter where required in the circumstances described above.
How Green Apple Travel Helps
Send your passport data page, UAE residence visa and Emirates ID on WhatsApp, along with your intended dates and who is travelling. We confirm which route fits — tourist visa or the dedicated Umrah route — check the health requirements against your timeline, and arrange flights and accommodation in Makkah and Madinah alongside the visa work.
Because pilgrims frequently travel as families or in groups, we plan the party as a whole rather than as separate applications, which matters when one traveller's documentation lags behind the rest.
Umrah costs vary considerably with season, accommodation and group size, and we do not publish figures that would be misleading. For a written quote covering your dates and your party, message us on WhatsApp or use the enquiry form on this page.
Planning and Timing
Ramadan and the school holidays are the two peaks, and both affect flights, accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, and permit availability far more than they affect the visa itself. Booking early is worth more on this journey than on almost any other we arrange.
As with every destination, approval and timing rest with the Saudi authorities. No agent can guarantee a visa, a permit slot, or a processing time, and we will not suggest otherwise.
Common Mistakes UAE Applicants Make
- Assuming a dedicated Umrah visa is always required. An eligible Saudi tourist visa permits Umrah — though never Hajj.
- Confusing a visa with a permit. Entry permission and a booked slot to perform the rites are two different things.
- Leaving the meningitis vaccination too late. It must be given at least ten days before arrival; there is no way to fix this at the airport.
- Relying on second-hand accounts of the rules for women. Ask us to confirm the current position for your booking.
- Booking Ramadan travel late. Flights, hotels and permits all tighten well before the month begins.
- Unconfirmed return flights. A confirmed roundtrip booking is specified for this route.
Important Disclaimer
Green Apple Travel & Tourism is a private travel and visa assistance company. We are not an embassy, consulate, government authority, VFS Global, BLS International, TLScontact, or any official visa decision-making body. Visa approval, processing time, number of entries and validity are decided solely by the relevant embassy, consulate or immigration authority. Our service covers consultation, document preparation, reservations, and application submission support. Applicants may also apply directly through the relevant embassy or consulate without using our paid assistance.
Fees & Refunds
Embassy fees, service charges, courier fees, insurance fees, and third-party charges may be non-refundable once paid or once work has started. If a visa is refused, embassy fees are usually non-refundable. Green Apple Travel & Tourism service fees are subject to our Terms & Conditions and Refund Policy.
Data & Privacy
By sending documents to us by WhatsApp, email, form upload, or in person, you consent to Green Apple Travel & Tourism reviewing and processing your personal information for the purpose of visa consultation, document preparation, and application support. Sensitive personal data such as passport copies, Emirates ID, bank statements, and employment documents will be handled only for the requested service, subject to our Privacy Policy.
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