Makkah remains open today to eligible Umrah pilgrims, residents, and authorised workers. The wider Gulf region is in active conflict, but Makkah and Jeddah have not been reported as directly hit.
The nearest confirmed strike hit Abha airport in Saudi Arabia’s southwest, roughly 600km from Makkah. This is a fast-moving situation, so verify any time-critical detail directly with your airline or the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah before you travel.
Is it safe to travel to Makkah right now?
Yes, with normal pilgrim precautions: Makkah has not been named as a target in the current conflict, and the city is in its usual quiet post-Hajj lull. The practical risks for visitors are Gulf-hub transit disruption, short-notice security instructions, and routine eligibility or permit checks, not any confirmed direct threat to Makkah.
Saudi authorities have closed four southern airports as a precaution — Abha, Jizan, Najran, and Sharurah — none of which are near Makkah or Jeddah.
For more on regional aviation, see our Saudi Arabia airspace update.
- Follow instructions from Saudi authorities, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, airport staff, and your tour operator
- Keep your passport, visa or permit, return ticket, and a charged phone accessible
- Save emergency numbers: 911 (unified emergency), 937 (Ministry of Health), 997 (ambulance), and 998 (civil defence)
- Avoid the Saudi-Yemen border zone and the vicinity of the four closed southern airports, or any area named by your government’s advisory
- Choose hotels in Makkah close to the Haram to minimise movement across the city
Gulf airspace and transit risk: what pilgrims need to know
Flying direct to Jeddah currently carries a materially lower risk rating than transiting through Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, or the UAE, which sit under an active EASA avoidance bulletin (valid until at least 29 July 2026). Plan your routing and buffer time with that gap in mind.
- Avoid at all altitudes: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and UAE airspace, plus the Gulf of Oman west of 58°E
- Avoid at all altitudes: Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon airspace
- Exercise caution rather than avoidance: Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, and Oman
Kuwait International Airport’s overflight corridor remains closed, with arrivals and departures needing prior approval. Bahrain’s and Qatar’s hubs remain open but congested, and GPS jamming and spoofing are widespread across the Gulf, adding to delays even where airspace is technically open.
For pilgrims transiting through Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, or Kuwait en route to Jeddah or Madinah:
- Confirm your transit airport’s operational status before departing, and check our UAE airspace update if routing through the UAE
- Allow significant extra buffer time for potential delays, rerouting, or aircraft changes
- Contact your airline directly for rebooking options if your connecting flight is disrupted
Getting to Makkah: flights, airports and what to check
Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport remains open and is still the main gateway for Makkah, though it is running under flow-management congestion as airlines reroute around Gulf airspace. Expect short-notice schedule changes rather than an outright closure.
Madinah’s Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport remains the common second gateway for pilgrims visiting Madinah first. Flynas maintains an active advisory covering its Gulf-linked routes.
Before you travel:
- Confirm your flight directly with your airline, especially if you are connecting through Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, or Qatar
- Allow extra transit time through Dubai, Doha, or Bahrain if you must route that way
- Register your trip with your home country’s consular service, such as the UK FCDO travel advice page
Confirm your travel insurance is valid given current advisories. The FCDO warns that policies may be invalidated if you travel against official advice, so check your insurer’s position on Saudi Arabia in writing before you fly.
Umrah 1448 AH: current status for pilgrims
Umrah is operating normally under the 1448 AH season, and no new entry, capacity, or permit restrictions have been reported. A Nusuk-issued permit remains mandatory for entry to Masjid al-Haram and the Rawdah.
July is actually a favourable window to go: crowds are at their lowest since Hajj pilgrims have gone home, and Makkah hotel rates are running 40 to 60 percent below Hajj-season peaks.
Performing Hajj or Umrah without a valid permit still carries serious penalties:
- Up to SAR 20,000 in fines, deportation, and a 10-year re-entry ban for unauthorised pilgrims
- Up to SAR 100,000 in fines for anyone who facilitates unauthorised pilgrims, including arranging visit visas, transport, or shelter for them
If you are still inside Saudi Arabia on an expired Umrah visa, contact your nearest General Directorate of Passports office or use the Absher platform. For visa and permit steps, see our Umrah application guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Makkah open to foreign visitors right now?
Yes, if you hold a valid Umrah visa and a Nusuk-issued permit. The 1448 AH Umrah season is running normally with no new restrictions reported.
Is Jeddah airport working normally?
Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport is open, but it is operating under flow-management congestion as airlines reroute around Gulf airspace. Expect possible delays and short-notice schedule changes rather than closure.
Is Makkah directly affected by the current regional conflict?
No direct strike on Makkah or Jeddah has been confirmed. The closest verified attack was on Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia, roughly 600km away.
What is the current EASA guidance for Gulf airspace?
EASA tells operators to avoid Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and UAE airspace at all altitudes until at least 29 July 2026. Saudi Arabia falls under a separate, lower-tier caution notice rather than an avoidance bulletin.
Can I still perform Umrah this season?
Yes. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirms pilgrims can enter Makkah and issue permits through Nusuk for the ongoing 1448 AH season, with July offering lower crowds and cheaper hotels than the Hajj peak.
Will my travel insurance cover me?
Not automatically. Several governments warn that insurance can be invalidated by travel against official advice, so confirm your policy’s position on Saudi Arabia with your insurer in writing before you depart.
What should I do if a shelter warning is issued?
Move indoors immediately and follow Saudi authority instructions. If possible, take cover in an interior stairwell or a room with as few external walls or windows as possible until an all-clear is issued.
Sources
- Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah – Umrah Season Calendar for 1448 AH
- Saudi Press Agency – Hajj Ministry announces Umrah Season Calendar for 1448 AH
- Saudi Press Agency – Hajj permit violation penalties
- Saudi Press Agency – SAR 20,000 fine for unauthorised Makkah access during Hajj
- EASA – CZIB-2026-07, Airspace of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman
- EASA – Conflict Zones Advisories (Iran, Iraq, Lebanon bulletins and Saudi Arabia Information Note)
- UK FCDO – Saudi Arabia travel advice
- U.S. Department of State – Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory (Level 3)
- U.S. Department of State – Worldwide Caution
- Australia Smartraveller – Saudi Arabia travel advice
- Government of Canada – Saudi Arabia travel advice
- The Washington Post – Yemen’s Houthis strike Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport
- The National – US travel warning as Kuwait and Bahrain flights resume
- flynas – Travel advisory and flight updates
- Saudi Ministry of Health – 937 Call Center
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.
