Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
During Ramadan, the pilgrimage of Umrah sees a sharp surge in demand, pushing up package prices as travellers seek to visit Makkah and Madinah during the most spiritually rewarding period of the Islamic calendar.
Unlike Hajj, which takes place on fixed dates, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year. However, the holy month of Ramadan consistently records the highest demand due to its added spiritual significance.
Most pilgrims travel for three to five days to perform the core rituals, which include entering a state of ihram (spiritual purity), circumambulating the Kaaba (tawaf), walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa (sa'i), and cutting or shaving the hair.
Packages and Prices Skyrocket
Travellers from the UAE often secure Umrah packages weeks or even months in advance to manage the Ramadan rush. Ibrahim, an operator at a local travel agency, said that his company is already fully booked until the end of the holy month.
"People start booking from the start of January to secure a good price," he told Aletihad.
He explained that his agency reserves flights, hotels and transport months ahead to lock in lower rates. A five-star triple room near the sacred mosque in Makkah booked in January costs around Dh2,700 per person. But for those booking during Ramadan, the price can rise to Dh3,900–Dh4,000, while a single room can reach Dh9,000.
Ahmad Dafer, another Abu Dhabi-based tour operator, added that packages for the final 10 days of Ramadan can range from Dh5,000 to more than Dh8,000, depending on the booking date and package type.
However, budget-friendly options, such as group bus packages, are also available at around Dh3,000 to Dh4,000, he told Aletihad.
According to Skyscanner data from February 24, flights from the UAE to Jeddah next week range between Dh900 and Dh1,300. During the last 10 days of Ramadan, fares can climb to as much as Dh2,700.
Pilgrims typically arrive via King Abdulaziz International Airport or Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport before travelling onward to Makkah by bus, taxi or the Haramain High Speed Railway, a journey of around one hour.
'Deeply Spiritual Experience'
For many, the spiritual significance of Ramadan outweighs the higher costs and larger crowds.
Shamma, 23, who performed Umrah last year during Ramadan with her brother, said the atmosphere is unlike any other time.
"Something about the air there during Ramadan is just different. Everyone is so giving. We'd pray and sit together for iftar, each family gathered in a circle breaking fast with thousands of worshippers," she told Aletihad.
Fatima, 44, an Emirati mother, is planning to perform the Umrah pilgrimage during Ramadan with her two sons.
"I am going during the last ten days because it is a deeply spiritual experience, and performing Umrah during Ramadan carries the reward of Hajj," she said.
"I have been preparing by keeping up with my Quran reading from the start of the month, with the intention of completing it in Makkah."
Others, including 60-year-old Naemah, prefer to perform Umrah just before Ramadan begins. She told Aletihad that travelling ahead of the holy month allowed her to avoid peak congestion while still fulfilling her pilgrimage plans.
