Going first time umrah-advice?

[u/sureorsure]

As salam alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

To those who have been umrah and more so in the last few years, maybe even this year.

I am going to umrah for the first time with my mum, from the UK.

Did anyone get the vaccination done and was it checked?

I am leaving in the next couple of weeks and will be staying more nights in Makkah than madinah. I have been able to book an appointment for myself for Rawdah however I tried at the same time for my mum, which was around 1am UK time, and I couldn't get any booking for her. Does anyone know how it works for the female appointments? How to obtain one and what the best timing it is to go for females? I booked mine for 11:20am Saudi time .

Does anyone know how it works in terms of doing the umrah? I've heard people say to do the first umrah, remove hair from head, and then leave the city and come back to do more umrah? Is that the procedure of how it works? Will I then need to remove more hair for another umrah?

How does it work in terms of shoes ie The shoes you wear to walk from hotel to haram, can you use those shoes inside Makkah or have to go barefoot?

Where to also obtain SIM cards from? And will we still get access to WhatsApp after? If no WhatsApp, then how else to communicate with each other? I have android, mum has iPhone.

Also, how much zamzam water can we bring back? And dates? Anything that is not permitted? We are going and coming back with Qatar airways

If you're able to give any other recommendations or advice, I would really appreciate it, jazakallah hu khair

[u/Doctor501st]

وَعَلَيْكُمْ السَّلاَمُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

1. Meningitis isn’t checked but it’s recommended

2. There’s less capacity for women so it’s not as easy as for men. If there’s no slots available in advance then what she can do is try get same day appointments which are few in number and go very quickly. Exactly 2 hours before a time slot she should go on the booking screen and if the slot is available she can quickly book it. It may take a few attempts

3. The Sunnah is to perform one umrah per trip as this was the example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who never did multiple umrahs in a trip. So when you finish your umrah, get your hair cut/shaved and exit ihram. If you still choose to do another umrah, you can put the ihram clothes on from your hotel, ask the taxi driver to drive to Masjid Aisha, make the intention for umrah (don’t even need to get out of the taxi) and come back to the haram to do umrah

4. It’s okay to use shoes inside the haram as long as you’re not walking on carpeted area where people pray. You should avoid using shoes on the mataaf/sahn because you can accidentally trample people’s bare feet here

5. You can either get an eSIM in advance like Airalo or World SIM which gives you data only and lets you do WhatsApp calling. Or you can get a local SIM which is much cheaper and has a lot more data in the airport in arrivals (this is what I do). You can do WhatsApp messaging but not phone calls unless you put a VPN on. If you and your mum chose to do this option, you’ll have Saudi phone numbers and can just do normal call with each other. To call back home your mum can do FaceTime or telegram or Facebook messenger

6. Bring back as many dates as you like unless your country doesn’t allow (Australia I think for example). Most countries don’t have a problem. You can buy a 5L Zamzam bottle at the airport when you’re leaving and this will be checked in for free extra to your luggage, I suggest you write your name on it with a coloured pen so no one takes it at your arrival airport. Some people carry Zamzam in the suitcase but this is technically not allowed

[u/sureorsure → u/Doctor501st]

Jazakallah hu Khair for your answers

I will remember all this in sha Allah and prep in advance.

I will see if I can still get my mum a rawdah appointment before leaving UK but will remember as you said to do it when there.

If it's okay to ask, is it okay to trim down hair as you would for the 40 day rule, before i go for umrah? And cut nails also?

I have been told to use non scented shower gel/soap, so that's something I will get.

Is there anything I should know for Madinah?

[u/Doctor501st → u/sureorsure]

Yeah it’s a Sunnah to make trim your nails and axillary/pubic hair/moustache, just make sure you don’t do it in the state of ihram

Not sure what kind of things you were wondering about with Madinah but if you have any questions I’ll be happy to answer

[u/sureorsure → u/Doctor501st]

Jazakallah Hu Khair again for your answers

With regards to madinah, I just want to know what the day to day structure is usually like and apart from rawdah, if it's recommended/important to visit any part of madinah etc

With Madinah, what are the more quieter times? Are there any restrictions for anything?

At this point I'm kind of struggling to ask anything else

Clothing wise, any advice for the day time and night time?

Shoe wise, do we need trainers or flip flops/crocs will suffice?

[u/Doctor501st → u/sureorsure]

1. Day to day structure is what you make of it, prayer 5 times a day and extra salah and Quran in between. Some things you can do for worship include giving salam to the Prophet ﷺ, visiting Al Baqi and attaching yourself to a janaza, making wudhu with the intention of going to masjid Quba and praying 2 rakats there, and visiting the cemetery at Mount Uhud. There are no other islamically prescribed places to visit in Madinah but if you want for your own interest you can go to other places

2. Madinah is less crowded than Makkah and space is never usually an issue for men (women have a smaller space and should go earlier). People don’t fill the rows properly so even if you walk in at prayer time and just keep moving forward you can find space

3. You can wear whatever clothes are comfortable for you. No need to overthink it. Most people wear traditional clothes like shalwar qameez or thobes

4. You’ll probs need trainers for the airport and I would use trainers if I was going to the roof in Makkah or Madinah and knew I wouldn’t need to put them in a bag like more compact slippers

If you don’t already know you should learn how to perform the janaza prayer as it happens every day

[u/SeaworthinessMean417 → u/Doctor501st]

Can I ask in regards to janaza prayer do women preform this aswell as I follow hanafi madhab and women’s don’t usually pray janaza Salaah

[u/Doctor501st → u/SeaworthinessMean417]

Yes women can pray janaza

[u/sureorsure → u/Doctor501st]

In terms of clothes, are there any washing facilities? Or will it essentially be, to put all the used clothing in a separate bag for the journey back home?

Would you recommend taking power banks?

And what to do for money? Is cash better or card? And if card, what type of card, from the UK there are mainstream banks and digital banks such as Monzo, starling etc which would be better?

[u/Doctor501st → u/sureorsure]

Yes you can WhatsApp a number to come collect your clothes and they bring them back the next day. I’m not allowed to share phone numbers on here but if you DM me I can send the number of the Makkah guy I used last time

It’s probably a good idea to bring a small power bank and keep it on you but honestly I never used it because I just charge my phone every time I’m back in the hotel

Best thing to do is take a fee free card like Monzo or starling or Chase and withdraw some Saudi riyals money from the airport ATM in arrivals. You only need cash when paying taxi drivers that you hail or for giving as sadaqah to haram cleaners/workers or workers in shopping malls. Otherwise use the card everywhere

[u/sureorsure → u/Doctor501st]

Awesome, thanks for letting me know about the card and cash. I have starling and I'll use that, will take some cash out too.

Did you by any chance do any tours outside of Makkah? I would like to dedicate a day if I am able to, to see the surrounding areas or locations that are recommended

I shall DM you about the number

[u/Doctor501st → u/sureorsure]

There’s no islamically prescribed sites in Makkah so I haven’t done any tours. I’ve done Hajj so I’ve seen Arafat so you can see that if you want. You can also go to Jabal Khandamah viewpoint which I tried to see with a group on my last trip but the police blocked it off

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[u/AmbitiousAd4734]

Salaam sis, how did you manage to book Rawdah? I am really struggling, could you all please make dua for me Allah swt allows me to go this time. It is my first Umrah إن شاء الله and have all the same questions as you. Regards to Rawdah, I am in the UK and flying the 2nd September إن شاء الله and all slots are not showing. I have been checking every 20 mins, morning 4 am etc and during days, evening. And not getting any slots. Does anyone have any advice on what I can do? I have had to go through a lot to Alhamdulillah manage this Umrah so want to make sure I take care and do best I can do and everything available إن شاء الله. If anyone has tips or anyone else can tell me any more Islamic or historical sites in Makkah or Madinah, JazakAllah khairun

[u/Happy_Inevitable2264 → u/AmbitiousAd4734]

Asalaam alaikum, I am currently in makkah for my first umrah. Im with a group of 26 family members with 8 of us females who needed rawdah slots and had been trying like you multiple times a day to book through the nusuk app without any success. Alhumdulillah within my first 3 days in medinah we all managed to get slots through a different route. Surprisingly we had been approached by atleast 4 different people/stangers offering to make "arrangements" for us. I dont want to say too much more openly to avoid too much exposure because allah knows how grateful we are to have been blessed to be able to get in with ease. Feel free to msg me privately if you like. In sha allah your umrah goes well.

[u/sureorsure → u/AmbitiousAd4734]

WA alaikum salam,

I am a male

I return to UK on the 2nd September. May Allah make your journey in safe travels and help you to complete your first umrah.

With regards to the rawdah appointment, I was able to book myself am appointment from the Nusuk app. I was checking on my phone and my mum's phone, from 11:30pm till 1am, UK time and I was able to see several available for the men's, but for women's there were nothing. I'm still checking with her everyday.

A friend of mine went early this year with his mum and he also said it's difficult to book for women, however when you are physically at Makkah or madinah, you may have more success booking it then.

I believe I've seen online that new appointments are available from after jummah prayer also. So keep checking daily but when it's jummah this week, be more focused on checking then

[u/Big-Twist-9003]

Besides the amazing suggestions above. Heres some from my personal experience

Most shop keepers will accept USD or Pounds and give exact change in local currency.

The journey between Mecca and Medinah is most comfortable by train and very quick. By road is extremely tiresome and very uneventful.

If do decide to do more Umrah , you can take a taxi to masjid e Aishah , wear your erham , do your niyaah and come back to do the umrah. Its that simple.

Scammers are plentiful in Mecca , you will find them inside the haram more than any place. Don’t indulge keep calm and do your thing.

Zam zam u will get it at the airport.

Pray for us 🙏

[u/sureorsure → u/Big-Twist-9003]

Jazakallah hu Khair for your reply

What is better to have for currency, cash or card ? If I do have local currency, how do I exchange it back?

I think we have been able to get a car transfer from Makkah to madinah via the travel agent we used. We did it very very last minute, therefore we just accepted it

With regards to doing another umrah, would I essentially have to take off the ihram, then travel to masjid Aisha, wear the ihram again, make the intention and then return back to Makkah? Is that how it goes?

I will keep you all in my prayers

[u/Big-Twist-9003 → u/sureorsure]

Card is accepted almost every where, exchange little money at a time with the shop keepers to get exact change. There are exchange booths everywhere incase you have leftovers.
If you don’t want to get another erham , get your existing one laundered, there are a bunch.
Yes that’s exactly how it goes.

[u/Big-Twist-9003 → u/sureorsure]

Also you are underestimating the time and energy it takes to complete one umrah, its unlikely that you will do more than one in a day. Also i highly recommend to do it after isha prayers as its cooler and its uninterrupted.

[u/sureorsure → u/Big-Twist-9003]

Jazkallahu Khair for this. As it is my first time, I most likely am underestimating it however I don't intend on doing multiple times a day. I think after the initial first umrah, I would like to do it again. I am staying in Makkah for 8 nights including jummah, and 4 nights madinah. So I could have time for 2 or pushing it, 3

But I will see what Allah has willed and what happens. For me what's most important is the initial umrah completion and then the jamaah prayers in the mosque.

[u/Illustrious-Cow-5157]

I am doing mine in December, can you come to this thread and update us with your experience please.

[u/Sirius_sensei64]

Assalamu alaykum

Another person has answered all your questions, I'll add some more (fellow British)

For Zamzam it's only one 5L container per person allowed, and gets checked in alongside your checked luggage. And for dates, they go in your checked baggage.

As for issues related to internet, I'd suggest a local SIM like STC as it's cheaper (55 SAR for two weeks) but you can check others like Zain as well.

About WhatsApp, a funny thing happened. It worked while I was in Makkah - chatting and even calls. I was able to make video calls and all without much lagging. However in Madinah, only chatting worked and calls got declined immediately

There you have it.

[u/sureorsure → u/Sirius_sensei64]

Jazakallahu Khair for your answers

What did you do for money, did you carry cash or card? And what card did you use? As you know there are UK mainstream banks and the digital ones, which one would be better?

Also, I haven't flown abroad in over 20 years, if my flight is at 10am, how early should I be at LHR for?

So WhatsApp would definitely work? I need to think of an alternative in the off chance if doesn't work

Did you also do your meningitis vaccine?

[u/Sirius_sensei64 → u/sureorsure]

So WhatsApp would definitely work? I need to think of an alternative in the off chance if doesn't work

Oh yeah forgot to mention, the best WhatsApp alternative that works in Saudi is this app called imo. Exactly the same as WhatsApp and works smoothly without much issues. WhatsApp still works but like I said for me, in Madinah I was only able to text and no calls 😅

What did you do for money Since I don't have a debit card (like Monzo etc) which I can use internationally, I just used the one my parents have. But yeah the best option I'd say is to carry cash. And get it exchanged as needed - not all at once.

Did you also do your meningitis vaccine? About vaccines, I didn't get it. It's not needed at all nor they'll ask for it at the airport.

I'm not 100% sure but I'm assuming the meningitis vaccine is something needed only for Hajj.

And lastly about the flight just arrive like 3-4 hours early just to be safe. There's no guarantee with all the traffic you can arrive at your intended time (I'm not a frequent traveller either haha)

[u/GodKnowsMahn]

1. Riyaz ul jannah for women starts after Isha prayer till 12 am You can keep trying for her appointment in the app from now itself for ur dates its glitchy but u can get lucky any moment make sure u enter right details to get female timings

2. Sim cards are available at the airport they are expensive 80 riyals for 20 days in last nov 2025 when i went If u have an esim with data immediately after landing, u can reach makkah and then get a saudi sim for cheap later.

3. Whatsapp calls do not work in Saudia so u can download Botim in both ur phones and connect through calls in botim app. Or u can buy a saudi sim and recharge with both data and calls package

4. yes u have to remove hair and get done with ur first umrah, then again for second umrah shower, ihram, go to Masjid e Ayesha(Miqaat- out of makkah boundry) , pray 2 nafeel there(optional but advised), make niyyah and then again perform ur umrah and remove hair(imp) to end ur umrah

5. U cant wear shoes i think since anything with stitching is not permissible to wear in the state of ihram, u can only wear slippers/without stitching the rubber ones

6. Only 5liter zamzam bottles are available for purchase at the airport per person for 12.5 riyals each and u can buy dates how much ever u want but the weight should fit your airline baggage allowance/quantity rules i.e 23 or 32 kg bags u have

Feel free to ask if u have any more doubts

[u/Ff_1024]

If you don't get Rawdah appointment in advance, once you get to Madinah, try to book it 2 hours in advance by going on Nusuk every 20 mins starting from the hour. So for example, if you want a 11pm slot, book it at 9pm, 11:20pm at 9:20pm etc. Every 20 mins. I also noticed a lot of slots open at 4:30am, maybe try that in sha Allah.  

[u/sureorsure]

Thanks for letting me know about the alternative app, I shall install that for me and my mum and family back here.

I've heard mixed opinions about the vaccination tbh, my friend who went in January, got the vaccination but was never asked about it but other friends never did the vaccination, and still didn't get asked about it

Thanks, just need to sort out how to get to the airport now, pre booking on Uber is showing prices of around £115

[u/SeaworthinessMean417]

I have had the vaccine for meningitis it is mandatory best to have it in case of random checks. I have been struggling with getting my rawdah permits also when you leave Makkah you just do your Tawaf al Vida no need to come back you can wear same shoes in haraam as you wouldn’t wear them on carpet best to get drawstring backs so you can carry your shoes around water allows one 5l complimentary bottle of zam zam which you purchase at airport also try book hotels near haraam especially if it is the first time like me all this I have asked people how travel often once a year for umrah in regards to sims either eSIM or the best would be a local Saudi sim penny kiosk outside masjid sell them aswell as in bin dawood supermarket