Your decisions will affect how much your journey will ultimately cost. Check out our advice for a fantastic Umrah or Hajj experience at a price you can handle.

Whatever your financial situation, it's critical to carefully manage your budget when planning a trip for Hajj and Umrah. This way, you won't feel a financial burden and can focus on the spiritual experience of visiting Madinah and Makkah.

Cost of Umrah

The cost of the visa and flight tickets can be considered as a fixed cost. Flight prices do vary depending on the time of year you are travelling, the airline, route, etc. but the number of days you spend in Makkah and Madinah does not affect the cost of the flight or visa, making it a fixed cost. Price graphs are a great way to see what time of year and even day of the week is the best deal.  The charges involving hotel, food, souvenirs/shopping and tours vary with the number of days you are going to spend in the KSA as well as your own personal need. Ground transportation can vary according to your needs and the number of people you are travelling with.

When booking with Funadiq, we are able to purchase accommodations and transport in bulk, reducing the price for the individual travellers themselves. Funadiq has over 700 partners within the Umrah and Hajj industry which is why our prices and service are unmatched.

In order to help make Umrah as accessible as possible we pride ourselves in offering a wide range of packages all at varying price points so you will be sure to find something that fits your budget. We wanted to provide our travellers with some budgeting tips so you won’t feel a financial burden and instead can focus on the spiritual journey you are about to embark on.

Budgeting Tips

During the journey, pilgrims should ensure they have enough savings to provide for dependents at home. While the pilgrimage is affordable for most locals, those living outside of Saudi Arabia can expect the total cost to range from $1,000CAD to $8,000CAD per person. You will use cash for many of the day-to-day expenses. Prior to travelling, see if you can exchange your currency for at least 500 Saudi riyals to use as spending money upon arrival. To get cash while in the Kingdom, you’ll find an ample number of banks, currency exchanges and ATMs in and around Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah.

Types of Packages Available

Travellers are free to arrange their own accommodations and transport separately, however booking with an agency such as Funadiq you can take advantage of better prices and the added ease and support from our experienced team.

On our Maqam B2C platform offer both land and flight packages as well as various price options and fully customizable Umrah packages directly to the consumer. Flight package prices will vary depending on your country of residence.

With Funadiq we take care of all the details including round trip air transportation, ground transportation, hotel accommodations in both Makkah and Madinah, insurance, visas and on-ground support throughout your trip.

When to Travel

For a more tranquil and affordable Umrah experience pilgrims may opt to travel during off-peak and outside of holiday periods. You can also benefit from cheaper airfare and exclusive hotel discounts during these times. If you wish to perform Umrah during a busy season, you might want to travel during the week rather than on the weekends.

Most Umrah packages are anywhere from 7 to 30 days. A shorter trip will help reduce the costs associated with hotel stays. However you may wish to cut costs in other places to allow you to stay longer and experience everything the holy cities have to offer.

Additional Travel Costs

There are several other additional costs to consider when budgeting for Umrah, some being mandatory costs and some being non-obligatory.

SIM Cards

One of the pleasures of a pilgrimage is keeping in touch with friends and family back home via phone calls, text messages, and social media posts. Many hotels in Saudi Arabia now offer free wifi for guests. While travelling in Saudi Arabia, you can get prepaid SIM cards at the airport upon arrival, these aren’t very expensive and range depending on how much you plan to be using your phone. However, it is mandatory for each traveller to purchase one as you need to register with the Tawakalna and Eatmarna app using the Saudi phone number from your newly acquired SIM card.

Souvenirs and Shopping

For many pilgrims a significant part of Umrah is bringing home gifts and souvenirs for loved ones back home. You should make sure to allocate a portion of your budget for souvenirs and shopping as there are many shops and malls in the area you will want to check out. From upscale boutiques to bustling open-air markets, Saudi Arabia has some of the world’s most memorable shopping opportunities. Make a list of people you wish to buy Umrah souvenirs for, and plan how much you intend to spend on each.

Depending on how many days you plan to stay in Makkah and Madinah for, you might need to restock on things like sun protection, toiletries etc. Haircuts and shaving are other minor costs. It is important to keep in mind when purchasing things to come home that you are limited for space and weight in your luggage going home.

Insurance

It is mandatory that those coming to Makkah and Madinah have health insurance to cover them for any emergency or accidental injuries/illnesses. Also the insurance must cover you for the incidence that you contract COVID-19 while in Saudi Arabia, this coverage sometimes requires you to pay an additional fee depending on your type of visa and when you got it.

When travelling with Funadiq, we take care of the insurance costs and ensure all our travellers are well covered for anything that might come their way when travelling. Our Umrah insurance packages include everything from emergencies to general coverage as well as travel related for things like compensation for flight delays or cancellations.

Individual or Group Packages

When booking Umrah travel many online travel agents offer group packages where you will travel amongst a group of several over pilgrims, usually accompanied by a coordinator. This way of travelling can help save money as packages are usually cheaper and help avoid stress, especially if it is your first time in the holy cities. With this package type you do lose the autonomy of being on your own schedule and the ability to choose your own hotel accommodations as the packages are usually fixed and don’t allow for changes. Also if you are travelling with children or elderly relatives you might opt for individual packages as you can choose senior friendly accommodations as well as you might require more down time and travelling on a schedule might be difficult.

Budgeting for Food and Drinks

Depending on the kind of cuisine you like, planning a reasonable sum is worthwhile as eating and drinking together is one of the many pleasures of a pilgrimage. Most hotels in Makkah and Madinah, especially those at more luxury establishments, include a hearty breakfast and some even include complimentary tea and coffee all day.

It is also important to have money for drinks and snacks during the day as it can be quite hot in Makkah and you’ll need to stay hydrated and fueled while performing your rituals.

Conclusion

As Saudi Arabia can be an expensive country, make a budget and consider what costs you will incur. Your Umrah trip shouldn’t feel like it is a financial burden, instead create a budget and allocate your money wisely so you can focus on the spiritual journey instead of worrying about the price tag.