Choosing when to perform Umrah means balancing heat against crowds and cost, and the cheapest month is rarely the most comfortable one. This guide works through the calendar month by month so you can pick your window.
When the Umrah season is actually open
The first constraint on your timing is not weather or crowds, it is whether Saudi Arabia is issuing Umrah visas at all. The season closes annually for several weeks around Hajj.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the 1447 AH Umrah season ended in April 2026, and the 1448 AH season is now open.
If you are planning your trip now, the 1448 AH season is open and the Nusuk platform is issuing Umrah permits.
Saudi Arabia launched a multiple-entry Umrah visa on 20 July 2026. It is valid for 365 days from issuance and allows multiple entries with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days. Each visit requires a service package from an approved Nusuk provider and an Umrah permit, and the visa is not activated during Hajj season.
Year-round access via tourist eVisa
You don’t always need a dedicated Umrah visa. The Saudi Tourism Authority confirms that holders of a Saudi tourist eVisa, business visa, family visit visa or transit visa can perform Umrah year-round, outside the Hajj period itself.
This is useful if your travel dates fall awkwardly close to the season closure, since a tourist eVisa lets you visit the Two Holy Mosques outside the Hajj window without waiting for Umrah visas to resume.
The Makkah weather reality by month
Makkah is hot for most of the year, and what changes is whether it is “uncomfortable” or “genuinely dangerous.” Data from Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology (NCM) shows average daytime highs cross 40°C from May through October, with June peaking near 43°C in Makkah.
The monthly weather picture looks roughly like this:
- December to February (coolest): daytime highs of 29–32°C, nights as low as 18°C. The only window where you can walk between the Haram and your hotel mid-afternoon comfortably.
- March and November (shoulder): daytime highs around 32–36°C, manageable for most pilgrims.
- April and October: climbing into the high 30s, still tolerable in the early morning and evening but draining mid-day.
- May to September (peak heat): daytime highs of 40–44°C, with June the hottest month at an average high near 43°C.
For older pilgrims, anyone with cardiovascular conditions, or families travelling with young children, the heat from May to September is a serious logistical factor, not just a comfort issue.
The World Health Organization’s guidance on heat exposure notes that sustained outdoor activity at 40°C+ raises the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke significantly for older adults and those with chronic conditions. This translates directly into how you plan tawaf and sa’i sessions during summer Umrah.
When the Haram is calm versus packed
Crowd levels at Masjid al-Haram swing by an order of magnitude across the year, and a quiet weekday in October feels nothing like the last 10 nights of Ramadan.
The peak-demand windows are predictable:
- Ramadan (18 February to 19 March 2026, then roughly 8 February to 8 March 2027): the most crowded month of the year, with a record 25 million worshippers at the Grand Mosque during the first 10 days of Ramadan 2025.
- Mid-June to mid-August: summer school holidays in Southeast Asia, India, Pakistan and Gulf countries drive a secondary peak, despite the heat.
- Late December: Western school holidays plus year-end leave create a smaller bump in international pilgrims.
Indonesian and Malaysian school holidays add a major mid-year break (mid-May to mid-June) and a year-end break (late November through December), which both push Umrah demand higher.
The lowest-crowd windows, in order of how quiet the Haram tends to be, are late September and the second half of November.
Travelling outside the peak windows means noticeably shorter queues for everything from tawaf to the Rawdah appointment in Madinah.
The quietest times of day, year-round
Even in busy months, you can find calmer windows inside the Haram. Ministry of Hajj and Umrah guidance notes that the period from after Fajr until late morning is consistently the least crowded.
Late night between Isha and the early hours is the second-best window, useful for tawaf in summer when daytime heat makes the marble courtyard unbearable.
When flights and hotels are cheapest
Flight and hotel prices can swing by 50% or more between peak and off-peak Umrah months, and the visa fee itself is the only fixed cost in the equation.
According to the official Nusuk platform, the dedicated Umrah visa costs around SAR 300 plus mandatory health insurance of SAR 100–180, regardless of when you travel.
What swings dramatically is everything else: flights, hotels, ground transport between Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah, and any package upgrades.
The cheapest windows in the calendar are:
- Late September to mid-November: a sweet spot of decent weather and below-average prices for flights to Jeddah, before year-end demand picks up.
- The first two weeks of December: prices stay low until school holidays kick in around 14 December.
- Mid-January: once school resumes after the mid-year break, demand softens until Ramadan preparations begin in early February.
The most expensive windows, predictably, are the last 10 nights of Ramadan, the two weeks before Hajj, and the Eid al-Fitr school break. Hotel rates within walking distance of the Haram can triple during these windows.
Booking lead time by season
Once you have settled on a month, you can price the flights, your hotel stay and the eVisa in a single search on Wego, an official partner of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
How far ahead you should book depends on which window you are targeting. For Ramadan or the pre-Hajj weeks, plan four to six months out.
For off-peak windows like October, November or January, two to three months ahead is usually enough to secure a good rate without compromising on a hotel near the Haram.
Month-by-month verdict for 2026 and 2027: Quick summary
The single best logistics window in the upcoming year is mid-October through mid-November 2026: manageable heat, manageable crowds, and prices well below the Ramadan and pre-Hajj peaks.
One caveat on the months below: Umrah packages only go on sale about three months out, so the windows nearest today are the ones you can actually price.
A window further ahead than that returns nothing until operators load those dates. Note the month you want, then search again about three months before you intend to travel.
A quick verdict for each month:
| Month | Heat | Crowds | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | Easing (high 30s°C) | Low (late September) | Below average | The earliest sensible window if you’re heat-averse. |
| October–November 2026 | Cool–warm (32–36°C) | Moderate | Off-peak | The logistics sweet spot: cooler weather, moderate crowds, off-peak pricing. |
| Early December 2026 | Cool (29–32°C) | Moderate | Good value | Still good value until mid-month, when international school holidays push prices up. |
| Late Dec 2026 – early Jan 2027 | Coolest (29–31°C) | High | Elevated | Year-end and the Saudi mid-year break bring crowds and higher prices. |
| Mid-Jan – early Feb 2027 | Cool (30–32°C) | Low–moderate | Reasonable | The other sweet spot: cool, calm, and reasonably priced before Ramadan preparation begins. |
| Mid-Feb – mid-March 2027 (Ramadan) | Mild (32–34°C) | Peak | Highest of the year | Maximum spiritual significance for many pilgrims, but peak crowds, peak prices, and minimum room availability. |
| Mid-March – early April 2027 | Warm (34–36°C) | High | Elevated (pre-Hajj) | The last realistic Umrah window before the season closes for Hajj 2027. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to do Umrah in summer when temperatures hit 40°C?
It’s safe for most healthy adults if you plan around the heat. Perform tawaf and sa’i in the early morning or late at night, stay hydrated, and avoid prolonged outdoor exposure between noon and 4 PM, but reconsider summer travel for elderly pilgrims, young children, or anyone with cardiovascular conditions.
Do I have to use Nusuk to perform Umrah?
Yes, Nusuk is mandatory for all Umrah pilgrims regardless of visa type. You’ll need to register on Nusuk to book your Umrah permit, schedule your entry to Masjid al-Haram and reserve a Rawdah appointment in Madinah.
Can I perform Umrah on a Saudi tourist eVisa?
Yes, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed in October 2025 that any valid Saudi visa (tourist, business, family visit or transit) allows you to perform Umrah outside the Hajj season. You still need to register on Nusuk for permits.
Sources
- Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Official Portal
- Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Frequently Asked Questions
- Nusuk: Official Umrah Booking Platform
- Saudi Tourism Authority: Visit Saudi
- Saudi National Center for Meteorology: Climate Data Portal
- Saudi Gazette: NCM Forecasts 43°C in Makkah During Hajj Season
- Al Arabiya English: Record 25 Million Worshippers at the Grand Mosque in First 10 Days of Ramadan 2025
- Gulf News: All Visa Types Now Eligible for Umrah (October 2025 Announcement)
- World Health Organization: Climate Change, Heat and Health
- Public Holidays Malaysia: 2026 School Holidays Calendar
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
