How to Perform Umrah Without a Travel Agent

Step #1: Sign Up on the Website

Visit the official website nusuk.sa and download the Nusuk app (used inside Saudi Arabia to obtain permits for rawdah visits and Umrah slots) on your phone. Now, create a free account by clicking the register button. Once you're registered, you will receive a confirmation link in your email. Click the link to activate your Nusuk account.

Step #2: Fill in Your Passport Info

You must enter the following details on your Nusuk account:

• Full name (must be the same as the CNIC)
• Passport number
• Photograph of your passport (front side)
• Travel dates (when you enter and leave Saudi Arabia). If Umrah is not open on the selected dates, you can choose another date.

Step #3: Book Your Hotel

The Nusuk website has approved hotels, but you cannot book your hotel directly from their system. Hotels can be sorted by rating, distance from the Haram, and price.

Step #4: Apply for a Visa

After your profile is completed and your hotel is booked, you can apply for your visa online from the portal if you have a valid US, UK, Schengen visa, or GCC residency.

• Upload a clear photograph of your passport, vaccine slip, passport photo, and relationship certificate (in case of family or group application). Make sure the text on the uploaded documents is clear and easy to read.
• Pay your fee online via debit or credit card. Activate international transactions (cross-border and e-commerce) from your banking app. The fee is around 300–400 SAR (approx. 22,000–30,000 PKR) at the moment. The government of Pakistan may charge a small international transaction fee. Keep the payment records and slips on your mobile.
• Wait until your visa is approved. Sometimes it takes 1–3 days, but it may take longer on peak days. We recommend that you apply for your visa at least 3–6 weeks before you plan Umrah. Once it's approved, you will receive a confirmation email. Keep copies of the confirmation, passport, and fee challan on your phone.
• Check the printed visa details precisely. Make sure your name, passport number, and travel dates are correct. In case of any mistake, contact Nusuk support to fix it immediately before your travel dates.

Step #5: Book Your Flights

You can fly to Jeddah or Madinah from Pakistan. Flying to Jeddah is the fastest way to reach Makkah, as it is 90 km away. Next, you will need a taxi or bus service from Jeddah airport to Makkah. The following flight options are available:

• Saudi Airlines (recommended)
• PIA (average & budget-friendly)
• Air Arabia
• Flynas

You can compare flight prices on airline websites to find the best offer for you. Remember, you will have to book a return ticket, as Saudi officers may ask about it at the airport.

Step #6: Book a Hotel in Makkah

It is very important to book your hotel room in Makkah first before the flight; otherwise, you won't get your Umrah visa. Comparing hotels on the Nusuk website is the best option because the hotels are already verified by the Saudi government. Please consider the following:

• The distance to Masjid al-Haram should be closer to 500 meters, so you can easily walk to the mosque for every prayer
• You can choose 3-star hotels or 5-star luxury hotels if you have a great budget — 3-star rooms are a great option if you're concerned about clean and nearby hotels
• If you're doing Umrah with your family, consider the nearest options for the mosque and avoid shuttle services
• Look for hotels with food options, which will save a lot of your time and money
• Search the hotel name, read reviews, and watch some videos
• Look for Urdu-speaking drivers for bus service if possible

Step #7: Understand Your Miqat Boundary

The Miqat is a boundary line where you must enter or cross in the state of Ihram before you reach Makkah. If you're traveling straight from Pakistan to Jeddah, your Miqat point is called Yalamlam. You will automatically cross this boundary while in flight. Wear your Ihram at Yalamlam Miqat.

The pilots announce to wear Ihram 30–40 minutes before the plane crosses Miqat. But we recommend you wear Ihram before your flight, as the airplane bathrooms are usually small and crowded.

If you do not do this on time, you will have to pay a penalty (dam) by sacrificing a sheep in Makkah.

Step #8: Put on Your Ihram

Before you put on your Ihram, you must know and follow these rules.

Ihram Rules for Men:

• Wear two sheets of unstitched plain white cloth. One sheet wraps around your waist, and the other covers your shoulders.
• Wear slippers or sandals that show the top of your feet and ankles.
• Do not wear any stitched underwear, shirts, or socks. Do not use scented soaps or perfumes while in Ihram.

Ihram Rules for Women:

• Wear loose clothes that cover your whole body. Any color is fine.
• Your face and hands must remain uncovered. Do not wear gloves or face veils (Niqab) that touch your skin.
• Do not use any perfumes or scented oils on your body or clothes.

Before you enter Ihram, take a bath (Ghusl) and pray two rak'ahs if possible. Now, make the intention to perform Umrah by saying: "Labbayk Allahumma labbayk" (O Allah, I am here for Umrah). Men can say these words out loud, while women can say them quietly. You can keep repeating these words until you see the Kaaba.

Step #9: Perform Tawaf Around the Kaaba

First, you must be in Wudu before you start any Tawaf. Tawaf means walking around the Kaaba 7 times in a counterclockwise direction. Go to the ground or upper floors of Masjid al-Haram and find the corner where the Black Stone is located.

• Face the Black Stone, raise your right hand toward it, and say "Bismillah, Allahu Akbar" to start your first round. Since it is usually very crowded, do not touch or kiss it — just point at it from a distance.
• Walk around the Kaaba with your left shoulder facing the Kaaba at all times.
• For the first three rounds, men should walk at a fast pace (Raml) if there is space. Walk the remaining four rounds at your normal speed.
• You can make your own personal prayers, read the Quran, or say simple words like Subhanallah and Alhamdulillah. There is no specific prayer for this.
• Keep track of your rounds. It is easy to forget your count, so use a small plastic tally counter on your finger.
• Try to finish all seven rounds without stopping, unless there is an urgency, like prayer time.

Step #10: Pray Two Rak'ahs at Maqam Ibrahim

When you finish all 7 rounds, walk towards Maqam Ibrahim and offer two rak'ahs. If there is a large crowd, you can say your prayers anywhere inside the grand mosque. Recite Surah Al-Kafirun in the first rak'ah and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second, then make your dua.

Step #11: Drink Zamzam Water

Now, go to the Zamzam water cooler, take a glass or bottle of it, stand up and face the Kaaba, and drink it. You can also carry a small bottle of Zamzam back to your hotel room.

Step #12: Walk Between Safa and Marwa (Sa'i)

• Start at Safa hill: Walk up Safa hill, face the Kaaba, and recite: "Innas-Safa wal-Marwata min sha'a'irillah." Say your prayer before you start walking.
• Walk toward Marwa: Walk down toward Marwa. You will see green lights on the ceiling. Men should jog under these green lights, whereas women should walk at their normal speed.
• Reach Marwa: Face the Kaaba, say a short prayer, and turn back toward Safa for the second lap.
• Finish the seven laps: Walk until you complete 7 laps between Safa and Marwa. Your last lap will end at Marwa hill. It is not mandatory to have Wudu for Sa'i, but it is better if you do.

Step #13: Shave or Cut Your Hair

The last step to complete Umrah is cutting your hair. Men can either shave their hair completely (Halq) or cut a short portion of their hair (Taqsir) — shaving all of the hair is highly recommended. Women only need to cut their hair to the length of their fingertips.

Step #14: Your DIY Umrah Is Complete

After cutting your hair, your Umrah is complete. You can take a shower and change back to regular clothes. Now you can visit and explore the historical sites of Makkah and Madinah until your flight back.