How long does Umrah take?The rites, and 7, 10 and 14-night plans
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Short answer
The rites of Umrah usually take two to three hours inside the Haram. Saudi Arabia's General Authority reported an average of 117 minutes in December 2025, with tawaf about 46 minutes and sa'i about 51. Crowds can stretch that much longer. Most families plan a trip of 7 to 15 nights.
On this page
People ask this question in two ways. Some want to know how long the Umrah itself takes, from tawaf to cutting the hair. Others want to know how many days to book for the whole trip. This guide answers both.
How long the rites take
Umrah has a short set of rites. In brief, and in the usual order (follow your own school and scholar for the details):
- Enter ihram before you pass the miqat, with the intention for Umrah.
- Perform tawaf: seven circuits around the Kaaba.
- Pray two rak'ahs after tawaf, then drink Zamzam if you can.
- Perform sa'i: seven lengths between Safa and Marwa.
- Men shave or shorten the hair, women cut a small amount from the end of their hair. Ihram ends.
Our step-by-step Umrah guide explains each rite and its duas.
The official average
The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques publishes average times. For Jumada al-Thani 1447 (roughly December 2025), it reported on 27/12/2025:
| Part of Umrah | Average time |
|---|---|
| Courtyards to the mataf | About 10 minutes |
| Tawaf | About 46 minutes |
| Mataf to the sa'i area | About 10 minutes |
| Sa'i | About 51 minutes |
| Whole Umrah | 117 minutes |
Add a few minutes for the two rak'ahs, Zamzam and the haircut, and most people finish in two to three hours. The authority's other monthly reports for 1447 give similar totals, between 115 and 117 minutes.
What makes it take longer
The average hides a wide range. These things add time:
- Crowds. In Ramadan, especially the last ten nights, and around Friday prayer, the mataf and sa'i area are far fuller. There is no official figure for those times, so allow several hours.
- Prayer times. When the adhan is called, everyone stops for the prayer, and the crowd builds before and after it. The hours around Maghrib and Isha are the busiest.
- Floor choice. The ground floor near the Kaaba has the shortest circuit but the most people. Upper floors and the roof have longer circuits and more space.
- Elderly parents and children. A slower pace, rests and toilet breaks add time. Carts and wheelchairs help with distance.
- Getting there. Walking from your hotel, finding your gate and passing the permit check all take time before tawaf starts.
The General Authority lists 10pm to 4am and 9am to 4pm as the lightest hours, and 5pm to 9pm as peak (August 2026 guide, reported by AJEL). Book your Nusuk permit for a lighter hour if you can. See the Nusuk app guide.
The time before you reach the Haram
Most people from Pakistan, the UK, the USA and Canada fly into Jeddah and put on ihram before the plane crosses the miqat. Then there is the airport, the road to Makkah, and checking in at the hotel before Umrah. By road, the drive from Jeddah airport to a hotel in Makkah usually takes one to one and a half hours, depending on traffic. The Haramain train from the airport station to Makkah takes about 35 to 50 minutes, plus the ride from the station to your hotel. Allow most of a day from landing to finishing Umrah. Read miqat on flights and Jeddah airport to Makkah.
How many days for Umrah?
You can complete Umrah in a day once you are in Makkah. The trip is longer because most people also want time to pray in Masjid al-Haram, to visit Madinah and the Prophet's Mosque, and to rest between long days.
| Trip length | Suits | What it allows |
|---|---|---|
| 7 nights | Adults short on leave, repeat visitors | Umrah plus a few days in each city, at a fast pace |
| 10 nights | Most first-timers and couples | Umrah, a comfortable stay in both cities, ziyarat |
| 14 to 15 nights | Families, elderly parents | A slower pace, rest days and more prayers in both mosques |
| 21 nights | People with time, Ramadan trips | Long stays in both cities, more time in the Haram |
The nights per city in the plans below are examples. We adjust them to your dates, flights and family.
Makkah or Madinah first?
Starting in Makkah lets you perform Umrah while you are fresh from the flight. Starting in Madinah gives first-timers and elderly parents a few calmer days before the Haram in Makkah. If you start in Madinah and travel to Makkah, you enter ihram before passing the Madinah miqat (Dhul Hulayfah) on the way.
A 7-night plan
A week works if you are short of time, but the days are full.
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1 | Land in Jeddah in ihram, transfer to Makkah, check in, rest |
| 1 or 2 | Perform Umrah at a lighter hour |
| 2 to 4 | Prayers in Masjid al-Haram, rest, optional Makkah ziyarat |
| 4 or 5 | Travel to Madinah by road or train |
| 5 to 7 | Prayers in the Prophet's Mosque, Rawdah visit if booked, Madinah ziyarat |
| 8 | Fly home from Madinah or Jeddah |
A common split is about four nights in Makkah and three in Madinah. See 7-day Umrah packages.
A 10-night plan
Ten nights gives most families a steady pace with a rest day or two.
| Days | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Arrive, rest, perform Umrah |
| 2 to 5 | Prayers in Masjid al-Haram, a rest day, Makkah ziyarat |
| 6 | Travel to Madinah |
| 6 to 10 | Prayers in the Prophet's Mosque, Rawdah visit, Madinah ziyarat including Quba |
| 11 | Fly home |
A common split is about five nights in each city. See 10-day Umrah packages.
A 14-night plan
Two weeks suits families with children or elderly parents. Nobody has to rush, and there is time to recover from the flight and the heat.
| Days | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Arrive, rest well, perform Umrah on day 2 or 3 at a quiet hour |
| 3 to 8 | Daily prayers in Masjid al-Haram, rest days, Makkah ziyarat |
| 8 | Travel to Madinah |
| 8 to 14 | Prayers in the Prophet's Mosque, Rawdah visit, Madinah ziyarat at an easy pace |
| 15 | Fly home |
A common split is about seven nights in each city, or more in Makkah if you want extra time in the Haram. Our 15-day Umrah packages cover this length, and 21-day Umrah packages suit longer stays such as Ramadan.
Can I do more than one Umrah on one trip?
Some people perform another Umrah, going out to a miqat such as Masjid Aisha (Tan'im) to enter ihram again. Scholars differ on whether repeating Umrah on one trip is recommended, so ask a scholar you trust. In Ramadan, Nusuk has allowed only one Umrah permit per person in recent years; see Umrah in Ramadan.
Things that change how long you need
- Season. In summer you may rest through the middle of the day and do your worship at night, so allow extra days. See best time for Umrah.
- Ramadan. Crowds are heavy and nights are long, so many families stay longer.
- Rawdah. A visit to the Rawdah needs a Nusuk booking, and slots can be hard to find. More days in Madinah give you more chances. See Rawdah booking.
- Elderly parents. A slower plan with rest days is easier on them. See Umrah with elderly parents.
- The road between cities. The trip from Makkah to Madinah takes most of a day once you count check-out and check-in. The Haramain train takes about two to two and three quarter hours between the two cities; by road it is usually four and a half to five hours. See Makkah to Madinah transport.
- Visa and season dates. Your visa and the season's last departure date (07/04/2027 for 1448) cap how long you can stay.
How Maqam e Haram helps
We build each trip around your family from our office in Islamabad. We suggest how many nights to spend in each city, book hotels close to the Haram and the Prophet's Mosque, arrange the transfers and the road or train between Makkah and Madinah, and plan ziyarat at an easy pace. Our own team on the ground in Makkah and Madinah meets you, helps you time your Umrah for a quieter hour and stays on WhatsApp throughout.
We don't issue visas and can't promise one. The Saudi authorities decide. We make the hotel and transport bookings the application needs and help you through it.
Tell us how many days you have and who is travelling. Message us on WhatsApp or call +92 309 9022120.
Questions and answers
How long does Umrah take?
The rites usually take two to three hours. The General Authority reported an average of 117 minutes in December 2025. Crowds can make it much longer.
How long does tawaf take?
About 46 minutes on average, according to the General Authority's December 2025 figures. It is longer at busy times and on the upper floors.
How long does sa'i take?
About 51 minutes on average in December 2025. Seven lengths between Safa and Marwa take longer if you walk slowly or use a wheelchair.
How many days do I need for Umrah?
You can complete Umrah in a day in Makkah. Most families book 7 to 15 nights to have time in Makkah and Madinah.
Is 7 days enough for Umrah?
Yes, for Umrah and a short stay in each city. The pace is fast, so it suits adults more than families with children or elderly parents.
How long does Umrah take in Ramadan?
There is no official figure. Crowds in Ramadan, especially the last ten nights, can stretch the rites to several hours.
What is the quickest time of day for Umrah?
The General Authority lists 10pm to 4am and 9am to 4pm as the lightest hours, and 5pm to 9pm as peak.
Should we go to Makkah or Madinah first?
Makkah first lets you perform Umrah while you are fresh. Madinah first gives a calmer start, which helps first-timers and elderly parents.
How long should elderly parents stay?
A 14 or 15-night trip lets them rest between days in the Haram. Book their Umrah for a quiet hour.
Can I visit the Rawdah on a short trip?
Yes, if you get a Nusuk slot. A few more days in Madinah gives you more chances to book one.
Related pages
Sources
The official pages and references we used, with the date we checked them.
- General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques, average Umrah time in Jumada al-Thani 1447 (27/12/2025), checked 19/10/2026: pep.gov.sa/en/news/839 (opens in a new tab)
- AJEL, the General Authority's crowd-time guide (August 2026), checked 18/10/2026: english.ajel.sa/saudi-arabia/h0qfwob25 (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Umrah season calendar for 1448 AH, checked 19/10/2026: haj.gov.sa/en/Media-Center/Ministry-News/2026/Ministry-of-Hajj-and-Umrah-Announces-the-Umrah-Season-Calendar-for-1448-AH (opens in a new tab)
- Gulf News, no permit for repeat Umrah in Ramadan, checked 18/10/2026: gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-no-permit-for-repeat-umrah-in-ramadan-1.101688691 (opens in a new tab)
- Nusuk, Umrah permits and Rawdah bookings, checked 19/10/2026: www.nusuk.sa (opens in a new tab)
- Siasat, the authority's report for Jumada al-Awwal 1447 (117 minutes), checked 20/10/2026: www.siasat.com/over-13-million-perform-umrah-in-jumada-al-awwal-average-time-117-mins-3301560/ (opens in a new tab)
- Haramain High Speed Railway, timetables and stations, checked 20/10/2026: sar.hhr.sa (opens in a new tab)