Hajj Insurance Explained: Is It Mandatory and What Does It Cover?

Is Hajj insurance mandatory for a Saudi visa?

Yes, and you don’t need to buy it separately.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Council of Health Insurance have approved mandatory health insurance as part of the entry visa, so every Hajj visa issued through Nusuk Hajj or an authorised national Hajj mission already includes it.

Under Tawuniya’s Hajj policy, insured persons are pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia on Hajj permits to perform Hajj, including GCC citizens with Hajj permits.

Saudi citizens and legal residents of Saudi Arabia, and GCC citizens without Hajj permits, are excluded from this Hajj policy.

What the mandatory Hajj insurance covers

The policy is valid for up to 75 days from the date you enter Saudi Arabia, according to Tawuniya’s Hajj policy.

The cover only works inside Saudi Arabia. If you fall ill at Dubai airport during a layover or get into an accident at home before your departure, this policy does nothing.

Based on the official Council of Health Insurance pilgrims’ policy and Tawuniya’s Hajj insurance policy, here’s what’s included:

Death and disability cover:

• Compensation for accidental death, death due to natural disaster, and accidental permanent total disability
• Blood money (diyah) issued by a Saudi court ruling, up to SAR 300,000 for males and SAR 150,000 for females
• Monetary compensation up to SAR 100,000 per person for death or accidental permanent total disability
• Repatriation of mortal remains back to the pilgrim’s home country, up to SAR 10,000 per person

Flight disruption:

• Compensation for flight departure delays from Saudi Arabia exceeding four hours, calculated at SAR 50 per hour from the fifth delayed hour and capped at SAR 500 per ticket
• Compensation for flight departure cancellation from Saudi Arabia, up to SAR 5,000 per ticket

COVID-19 assistance:

• COVID-19-related medical and hospital costs inside Saudi Arabia, up to SAR 650,000
• COVID-19 quarantine accommodation costs, up to SAR 450 per day for a maximum of 14 days
• COVID-19-related repatriation assistance and covered funeral costs, according to the policy limits

What the mandatory insurance does NOT cover

This is where most pilgrims get caught out. The policy is deliberately limited cover, not a full travel insurance plan.

Common gaps include:

• Pre-existing medical conditions — chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease are typically not covered for routine care
• Non-emergency medical treatment — anything elective or planned
• Treatment outside Saudi Arabia — your home country and any transit countries, except covered repatriation assistance under the policy
• Lost or stolen luggage — no baggage cover at all
• Personal liability — if you accidentally injure someone or damage property
• Trip cancellation before you travel — only flight departure cancellation while leaving Saudi Arabia is covered
• Theft of cash or valuables
• Travel delays caused by your own visa or paperwork problems

For pilgrims with existing health conditions, this is especially important. The mandatory policy is not designed to fund the routine medications and check-ups you might already be on.

Should you buy extra travel insurance for Hajj?

For most pilgrims, yes, a supplementary policy is strongly recommended, especially if you’re over 60, have any chronic condition, or are travelling on a tight budget where one big medical bill could be catastrophic.

A good top-up Hajj travel insurance policy fills the gaps the mandatory cover leaves open.

Look for cover that includes:

• Medical treatment in your home country and during transit, not just Saudi Arabia
• Higher medical limits than the mandatory policy — ideally USD 100,000 or more
• Pre-existing condition cover, especially if you take regular medication
• Trip cancellation if you can’t travel for medical or family reasons before departure
• Lost luggage, passport, and personal belongings
• Personal liability cover
• 24/7 multilingual assistance helpline

Where to buy supplementary cover

Many local insurers in your home country offer dedicated Hajj travel insurance products. These policies are usually cheaper than buying from a Saudi-based insurer and are designed around Hajj-specific risks.

What to check before you buy

Read the policy document carefully. The cheapest plans are often cheapest because they exclude religious pilgrimage activities — crowd-related injuries during Tawaf, heat stroke at Arafat, or accidents in Mina can fall into excluded categories on a generic travel policy.

Look specifically for the words “Hajj” or “pilgrimage” in the coverage section, or ask the insurer to confirm in writing that rites at the Holy Sites are included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a Hajj visa without insurance?

No. Medical insurance is part of the visa arrangements and there’s no opt-out. Every Hajj visa issued through Nusuk or an authorised national Hajj mission automatically includes mandatory Hajj insurance.

How do I make a claim if I need to use the insurance?

Claims and emergency inquiries are handled through Total Care Saudi, the claims-management company named in Tawuniya’s Hajj policy. The policy lists 800 440 0008 from inside Saudi Arabia, +966 13 812 9700 from outside Saudi Arabia, and riaya-ksa.com. Your tour operator or Hajj mission office should help with the process.

Does the insurance cover my family members?

Each pilgrim is individually covered. The policy applies per insured pilgrim entering Saudi Arabia on a Hajj permit, with its own policy limits and a 75-day maximum coverage period.

What happens if a pilgrim dies during Hajj?

Repatriation of mortal remains to the home country is covered up to SAR 10,000. The policy also pays death benefits in cases of accidents or natural disasters, and covers blood money (diyah) where a Saudi court rules it applies, up to the policy limits.

Is travel insurance permitted under Islamic law for Hajj?

Most major Islamic scholarly bodies permit takaful-based (Sharia-compliant) travel insurance. The Saudi government itself mandates the cover, which is widely accepted as religiously permissible. Conventional insurance is debated, but takaful alternatives are available from most major Gulf and Southeast Asian insurers.

 

Sources

1. Saudi Council of Health Insurance — Health Insurance Policy for Pilgrims and Umrah Performers
2. Nusuk Hajj — Official Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Platform
3. Arab News — Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Applies Comprehensive Health Insurance for Pilgrims
4. Saudi Gazette — Comprehensive Insurance Coverage for Umrah Pilgrims
5. Tawuniya — Hajj Insurance Policy for Hajj Pilgrims
6. Arab News — Saudi Arabia Slashes Umrah Insurance Cost by 63% for Overseas Pilgrims
7. Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah — Nusuk Card
8. Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah — Official Website