When does Umrah close for Hajj? For pilgrims from abroad, the Umrah season pauses for several weeks before Hajj and reopens a few days after it. For the season before Hajj 2027, the last day to enter Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa is 23 March 2027, and the last day to leave is 7 April 2027.
These dates come from the official Umrah calendar for 1448 AH, published by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on 17 May 2026. Hajj 2027 itself is expected around 15 May 2027. This guide explains every cut-off, when Umrah reopens and how to plan a trip from the UK around them.
Quick answer (1448 AH season)
- Last day to issue Umrah visas: 9 March 2027 (1 Shawwal 1448).
- Last day to enter Saudi Arabia for Umrah: 23 March 2027 (15 Shawwal 1448).
- Last day to leave Saudi Arabia: 7 April 2027 (30 Shawwal 1448).
- Umrah for overseas visitors usually reopens a few days after Hajj, in the middle of Dhul Hijjah.
When does Umrah close for Hajj?
For overseas pilgrims, Umrah closes in three steps: visas stop first, then entry, then everyone must leave. For the 1448 AH season, those dates are 9 March, 23 March and 7 April 2027. After that, Makkah is kept for Hajj pilgrims until the new Umrah season opens.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced these dates on 17 May 2026, and the Saudi Press Agency reported them the same day. The Ministry’s own 1448 AH Umrah calendar gives each date in both the Hijri and Gregorian calendars.
So the honest answer to “when does Umrah close for Hajj” is: about seven and a half weeks before Hajj, if you are coming from abroad. Hajj 2027 is expected around 15 May 2027, and your Umrah must be finished, and you must have left the country, well before then.
How many days before Hajj is Umrah closed?
Counting from the expected Hajj day of 15 May 2027, the last entry date of 23 March is 53 days before Hajj. The last departure date of 7 April is 38 days before it, and the last visa date of 9 March is 67 days before it.
The previous season followed almost the same pattern. In 2026, the last entry date was 3 April and Hajj fell on 26 May, again 53 days later.
Why Umrah pauses before Hajj
Umrah pauses so that Makkah, its hotels, transport and holy sites can be made ready for Hajj. Around two million pilgrims gather for Hajj each year, according to TravelHealthPro, and the authorities keep the city for them. The pause also makes permits easier to check and crowds safer to manage.
Hajj takes place at fixed places on fixed days, including Mina, Arafah and Muzdalifah. Every pilgrim needs a bed, transport and a safe route, all at the same time. That is only possible if the city is not also full of Umrah visitors.
In 2026, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior also required residents to hold a permit to enter Makkah from 13 April. From 18 April, only people with a Hajj visa were allowed to enter or stay in Makkah (Saudi Press Agency, 13 April 2026).
The three dates that matter
Watch three dates: the last day to issue Umrah visas, the last day to enter Saudi Arabia and the last day to leave. Each one is a hard deadline. Missing the first means no visa, missing the second means no entry, and missing the third means you are overstaying.
| Date | What it means | 1448 AH season | 1447 AH season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last visa issue date | No new Umrah visas are issued after this day | 9 March 2027 (1 Shawwal) | 20 March 2026 (1 Shawwal) |
| Last entry date | Umrah visa holders must arrive by this day | 23 March 2027 (15 Shawwal) | 3 April 2026 (15 Shawwal) |
| Last departure date | Every Umrah visa holder must have left by this day | 7 April 2027 (30 Shawwal) | 18 April 2026 (1 Dhul Qadah) |
The last visa issue date
For 1448 AH, this is 1 Shawwal, which is also expected to be Eid al-Fitr. Visas are issued through your travel agent or the official platforms, and the systems stop accepting new Umrah visas after this date.
A visa issued on the last day is only useful if you can still arrive within the next two weeks. So in practice, apply much earlier. If you book through a travel agent, ask when they need your passport details to meet the deadline.
The last entry date
This is the last day you can land in Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa. For 1448 AH it is 23 March 2027. If your flight is delayed or cancelled and you arrive after this date, you may not be allowed in.
The last departure date
This is the day by which every Umrah visa holder must have left the country. For 1448 AH it is 7 April 2027, one day earlier in the Hijri calendar than last season. Book your return flight well before it, not on it.
What about Madinah?
The deadlines belong to your Umrah visa, not only to Makkah. By the last departure date, you must have left Saudi Arabia altogether, even if you are staying in Madinah at the end of your trip.
Many packages finish with a few nights in Madinah before the flight home. If yours does, check that the flight leaves Madinah or Jeddah before 7 April 2027, with a day or two to spare.
Expected dates for Hajj 2027
The next Hajj is expected around 15 May 2027, based on the Umm al-Qura calendar. The day of Arafah falls on 9 Dhul Hijjah, and the exact date depends on the sighting of the new moon. The Ministry sets the Umrah deadlines for each season around this date.
Islamic months follow the moon, so the Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year. That is why Hajj, Ramadan and the Umrah deadlines all move about 11 days earlier in the Gregorian calendar each year.
The date shown above is the Umm al-Qura estimate, and it updates automatically. Saudi Arabia confirms the start of Dhul Hijjah only when the moon is sighted, so the real date can differ by a day. For Hajj 2027, expected around 15 May 2027, the fixed 1448 AH deadlines in this guide apply.
If you are planning Hajj rather than Umrah, see our Hajj packages from the UK. Hajj places for UK residents are booked only through the official Nusuk Hajj platform, as GOV.UK explains.
When does Umrah reopen after Hajj?
Umrah for overseas visitors usually reopens a few days after Hajj ends. In 2026, Umrah visas and arrivals restarted on 31 May (14 Dhul Hijjah), just five days after the day of Arafah. Pilgrims could enter Makkah and get Umrah permits on Nusuk from 1 June.
The same pattern opened the previous season in 2025, when visas started on 10 June (14 Dhul Hijjah) and pilgrims arrived from 11 June, according to the Ministry’s 1447 AH calendar.
As of September 2026, the dates for the season after Hajj 2027 had not been announced. If the pattern holds, Umrah would reopen in the week after Hajj, in late May 2027. Treat that as an estimate until the Ministry publishes its 1449 AH calendar.
The first weeks after Hajj fall in early summer, when Makkah is very hot. If you are travelling then with children or older parents, plan your rites for early morning or late at night.
Can you do Umrah during the Hajj season?
Not on an Umrah or tourist visa. During the pause, Umrah permits are suspended for everyone except Hajj pilgrims, and only people with a Hajj visa may stay in Makkah. Outside the pause, holders of all visa types can perform Umrah with a Nusuk permit.
In October 2025, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed that holders of all visa types may perform Umrah. This includes family visit visas, electronic tourist visas, transit visas and work visas (Saudi Press Agency, 5 October 2025).
That changes during the Hajj season. In 2026, the Ministry of Interior suspended Umrah permits on Nusuk for citizens, residents, Gulf nationals and holders of other visas. The pause ran from 18 April (1 Dhul Qadah) until 31 May (14 Dhul Hijjah).
So a British pilgrim on a tourist visa in Jeddah or Riyadh during that window could not do Umrah or enter Makkah. The arrangements for 2027 are usually announced a few weeks before the season, so check the latest news before you travel.
Hajj pilgrims and Umrah
Hajj pilgrims are the exception. Pilgrims doing Hajj al-Tamattu’ perform an Umrah first, during the months of Hajj, and then Hajj itself. That Umrah is covered by their Hajj visa and permit, not by an Umrah visa.
For more on choosing a visa, see our guide to the Umrah visa process from the UK.
Planning Umrah from the UK around the closure
Spring trips need the most care, because Ramadan, Eid and Easter can all fall close to the pause. In 2027, Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February, and Eid al-Fitr falls on the last visa date. Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027, five days after the last entry date.
If you are wondering when does Umrah close for Hajj in the school calendar, the short answer for 2027 is: before the Easter holidays. The table shows how each month fits.
| Month | What to expect | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| October to December 2026 | Cooler weather; October half-term and Christmas holidays | A comfortable time for families. Christmas dates fill early, so book ahead. |
| January 2027 | Cooler weather and often calmer crowds | A good time for older pilgrims who find heat and crowds hard. |
| February 2027 | Ramadan expected to start around 8 February; February half-term in many areas | Ramadan is very busy, so book well in advance. |
| Early March 2027 | Last ten nights of Ramadan; Eid al-Fitr and the last visa date on 9 March | Have your visa issued well before 9 March. |
| Late March 2027 | Last entry date: 23 March | Arrive by 23 March at the latest, ideally several days earlier. |
| Early April 2027 | Easter holidays; last departure date: 7 April | An Easter-holiday Umrah is not possible in 2027 unless you arrive by 23 March. |
| Mid-April to May 2027 | Umrah closed to overseas visitors; Hajj expected around 15 May | Plan Hajj separately, or wait for the new season. |
| Late May to August 2027 | New season expected to open after Hajj; very hot weather | Watch for the 1449 AH calendar before booking. |
Ramadan and Eid
Many UK families want Umrah in Ramadan, and in 2027 it falls in February and early March, which includes the February half-term in many areas. Our Ramadan Umrah packages cover this period. If you want to stay for Eid, remember that Eid day is also the last day to issue new Umrah visas.
Easter
Easter 2027 comes after the last entry date, so most Easter school holidays are too late for Umrah this year. If you usually travel at Easter, look at our Easter Umrah packages and ask us about dates that still work, or consider February or the autumn instead.
For a wider view of the year, read our guide to the best time to perform Umrah from the UK.
What happens if you stay after the deadline?
Staying after the last departure date is treated as a violation, and Saudi authorities say violators face the penalties set by law. Umrah companies that fail to report pilgrims who overstay can also be fined heavily. So leave before the deadline, even if your plans change.
In April 2025, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that staying beyond the deadline “subjects violators to statutory penalties”. It added that a company’s failure to report such delays may lead to fines of up to SAR 100,000, along with legal action (Saudi Press Agency, 7 April 2025).
GOV.UK’s pilgrimage advice warns that overstaying a Hajj visa can lead to large fines, detention, deportation or a ban on returning to Saudi Arabia. The same care applies to Umrah visas, so treat the last departure date as a firm limit.
How to check the official dates
Check announcements from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Nusuk platform and the Saudi Press Agency. These are the sources that set and publish the dates. News sites and social media often repeat them, but sometimes with mistakes or old figures.
The answer to when does Umrah close for Hajj changes every season, so use these official sources each time you plan a trip:
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Its Umrah page shows the season calendar, and its news section carries new announcements.
- Saudi Press Agency. The official news agency publishes each announcement in English, with the date it was made.
- Nusuk. The official app and website for Umrah permits and packages.
- GOV.UK. The Saudi Arabia pilgrimage advice covers visas, scams and safety for British travellers.
When you read a date, check which season it belongs to. The 1447 AH and 1448 AH calendars are both online, and it is easy to mix them up. At Travel to Umrah, we check the official calendar before we confirm any dates with you.
Booking tips around the Umrah pause
Leave spare days before each deadline, choose flights you can change and buy insurance that covers changes to your plans. A delayed flight should never push you past the last entry or departure date. These small steps protect both your Umrah and your money.
- Arrive early. Aim to land at least three to five days before the last entry date, in case of delays.
- Fly home early. Book your return several days before the last departure date, not on the day itself.
- Choose flexible tickets. A ticket you can change helps if a flight is cancelled close to the deadline.
- Get insured. Buy travel insurance for Umrah that covers cancellation, delays and medical care.
- Book your jab. The meningitis vaccine must be given at least 10 days before arrival, as our Umrah vaccine guide explains.
- Keep your documents ready. Your passport, visa and certificate should all be sorted well before the visa deadline.
Frequently asked questions about the Umrah closure
Is Umrah closed during Hajj?
Yes, for overseas visitors. For the 1448 AH season, the last day to enter Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa is 23 March 2027, and the last day to leave is 7 April 2027.
In 2026, Umrah permits on Nusuk were also paused for all other visa holders and residents from 1 Dhul Qadah until 14 Dhul Hijjah.
When does Umrah open again after Hajj?
Usually a few days after Hajj ends. In 2026, Umrah visas and arrivals restarted on 31 May (14 Dhul Hijjah), and Makkah reopened to Umrah pilgrims on 1 June.
As of September 2026, the dates after Hajj 2027 had not been announced, but a similar pattern would mean late May 2027.
Can I do Umrah in Dhul Hijjah?
Not in the first half of the month, unless you are a Hajj pilgrim. In 2026, Umrah permits were suspended from 1 Dhul Qadah to 14 Dhul Hijjah.
Umrah reopens for overseas visitors in the middle of Dhul Hijjah, so a trip later in the month is often possible once the new season opens.
Can I perform Umrah on a tourist visa before Hajj?
Yes, until the pause begins. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed in October 2025 that holders of all visa types, including tourist e-visas, may perform Umrah with a Nusuk permit.
In 2026, however, permits for other visa holders were suspended from 18 April to 31 May, and only Hajj visa holders could stay in Makkah.
What is the last date to enter Saudi Arabia for Umrah?
For the 1448 AH season, it is 23 March 2027 (15 Shawwal 1448), according to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Your Umrah visa must be issued by 9 March 2027, and you must leave by 7 April 2027. Leave a few spare days in case your flight is delayed.
What happens if I stay after the deadline?
Overstaying is treated as a violation, and Saudi authorities say violators face the penalties set by law. Umrah companies that fail to report overstayers can be fined up to SAR 100,000.
GOV.UK also warns that overstaying a Hajj visa can lead to fines, detention, deportation or a ban on returning.
Are the dates the same every year?
No. The Hijri dates follow a similar pattern, but the Gregorian dates move about 11 days earlier each year, and the rules can change.
For example, the last departure date was 1 Dhul Qadah in the 1447 season but 30 Shawwal in 1448. Always check the latest official announcement before you book.
Final thoughts: plan around the deadlines
When does Umrah close for Hajj? For the 1448 AH season, the answer is simple: get your visa by 9 March 2027, arrive by 23 March and leave by 7 April. After Hajj 2027, expected around 15 May, a new season opens within days.
When you are ready to book, compare our affordable Umrah packages, which start from £555 per person as of September 2026, with the visa included. We arrange flights from London, Manchester, Birmingham and other UK airports. Use the free quote form below, message us on WhatsApp or call +44 20 3287 2118, and the Travel to Umrah team will help you pick dates that fit the calendar.
Sources
We checked these sources in September 2026. Dates change every season, so check the latest announcements before you book.
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Umrah season calendar for 1448 AH, published 17 May 2026
- Saudi Press Agency: Hajj Ministry announces Umrah season calendar for 1448 AH, 17 May 2026
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Umrah calendar for 1447 AH
- Saudi Press Agency: Interior Ministry announces Hajj 1447 AH arrangements, 13 April 2026
- Saudi Press Agency: departure deadline and penalties, 7 April 2025
- Saudi Press Agency: all visa types allow holders to perform Umrah, 5 October 2025
- GOV.UK: Saudi Arabia travel advice, pilgrimage
- Hajj and Ramadan dates: Umm al-Qura calendar estimates, which depend on moon sighting
