Saudi Arabia Announces 2026–27 Umrah Season Calendar (1448 AH) — Key Dates for UAE Residents

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced the official Umrah season calendar for 1448 AH. The issuance of Umrah visas and the arrival of pilgrims to the Kingdom began on Sunday, 31 May 2026 (14 Dhul Hijjah 1447). From Monday, 1 June 2026, pilgrims are able to enter Makkah and obtain their Umrah permits digitally through the Nusuk application. The Ministry has emphasised that Umrah companies and overseas agents must adhere to the approved schedule and comply with all official regulations to ensure a smoothly organised season.

The season runs for roughly ten months. UAE residents planning a trip later in the period should note the two hard cut-offs in particular: 9 March 2027 is the last day an Umrah visa can be issued, and 7 April 2027 is the final departure date. Building a comfortable margin before each deadline avoids any risk of a visa being unavailable late in the season or of overstaying the season window.

For the 1448 AH season the Nusuk application is mandatory: it is the channel for issuing Umrah permits and for booking Rawdah appointments at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. Every Umrah visa must be linked to a verified Nusuk hotel booking in Makkah, Madinah, or both, and ground transport for airport transfers and inter-city travel should be arranged in advance. In practice this means UAE residents should confirm their accommodation before applying for the visa, not after.

The UAE is home to large communities — Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Egyptian and many others — for whom Umrah is a regular journey. For these residents the practical sequence is what matters most: secure a Nusuk-linked hotel booking and transport first, then apply for the Umrah visa through the Nusuk platform or the Saudi eVisa portal. Before applying, check that your passport has at least six months’ validity and two blank pages, that your UAE residence has enough remaining validity, and that you hold a valid MenACWY meningitis vaccination certificate from an official health authority.

The official 1448 AH calendar announcement set out the season’s entry, issuance and departure dates, but did not specify a fixed per-visa validity or maximum-stay period. UAE residents should confirm the current validity terms at the time of application directly through the Nusuk platform or official Saudi channels, and should always plan their return so as to depart on or before the season’s final departure date of 7 April 2027. As with any Saudi visa, remaining beyond the permitted period can carry penalties, including fines, detention and deportation, so adhering to the season window is essential.

1. 1Confirm your status. GCC citizens do not need a visa; UAE-resident expatriates do, and apply through the Saudi eVisa portal or the Nusuk platform.
2. 2Check your documents early — a passport valid for at least six months with two blank pages, a UAE residence with sufficient remaining validity (typically three months or more), and a valid MenACWY meningitis vaccination certificate.
3. 3Book a Nusuk-linked hotel in Makkah, Madinah, or both, and arrange your ground transport in advance, before submitting your visa application.
4. 4Apply for your Umrah visa via Nusuk or the Saudi eVisa portal, then issue your Umrah permit in the Nusuk application before you travel.
5. 5Plan your trip within the season window — apply well before the 9 March 2027 final issuance date and ensure you depart on or before 7 April 2027.

This update is based on publicly available information from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Nusuk platform, Arab News, Gulf News and Khaleej Times, all verified as of 2 June 2026. The 1448 AH Umrah season is open: Umrah visa issuance and pilgrim arrivals began on 31 May 2026, and Nusuk permits began on 1 June 2026. The official calendar announcement set the season’s entry, issuance and departure dates but did not specify a per-visa validity period. This analysis is provided for informational purposes to help UAE residents understand the announcement. It does not constitute legal advice. For the latest official information, always refer to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah at haj.gov.sa and the Nusuk platform.