Makkah Holiday Packages

Here are some interesting facts about the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia.

1. Makkah or Mecca is officially Makkah al-Mukarramah
2. It is the holiest city in Islam and is located in the western region of Saudi Arabia approximately 85 Km from Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport.
3. The city is the third most populated city in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh and Jeddah.
4. Makkah al-Mukarramah or the holy city of Makkah is the city of birth of the last prophet in Islam - Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the site of the holy Kaaba, the most sacred site in Islam.
5. Muslims around the world face Makkah al-Mukarramah during their daily prayers.
6. Makkah al-Mukarramah hosts more than 2 million Muslims from around the world every year during the 6-Days pilgrimage of Hajj (Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford The Hajj is obliged to take it once in their lifetime)
7. Makkah al-Mukarramah is home to the Masjid al-Haram, the largest and the most sacred mosque in the world, which surrounds the holy Kaaba.
8. Makkah al-Mukarramah is only for Muslims to visit.
9. Makkah al-Mukarramah is continuously modernizing and developing new hotels and infrastructure to accommodate the increasing number of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
10. More than half a million umrah pilgrims visit Makkah every year from India alone
11. Makkah al-Mukarramah has a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to at least the 2nd millennium BCE.
12. The city has been a center of trade and commerce for centuries, and it continues to be an important economic hub in the region.
13. The city is also home to many historic sites and landmarks, including the Zamzam Well. Even today the Zamzam well provides water to pilgrims every year during Hajj or their Umrah and to carry home for loved ones.

Umrah can be performed at any time of the year (Except the time of Hajj) Umrah rituals are shorter and simpler too. Umrah consists of four essential steps as below (in short):

First Step: Is getting into the state of Ihram before the Miqat, performing two Rakahs of Salah and making your Niyyah as the Miqat approaches, thereafter reciting the Talbiyah until you reach Masjid al-Haram.

Second Step: Entering Masjid al-Haram and performing Tawaf al-Umrah (Around Kaaba). Tawaf al-Umrah is followed by two Rakahs of Salah, preferably near Maqam Ibrahim.

The Third Step is to do the Sa’i of Safa and Marwah. (After completion of Sa'i It is recommended to make a final Dua and also to perform two Rakahs of Nafl Salah in Masjid al-Haram).

The Fourth Step: is to shave (Halq) or shorten (Taqsir) your hair followed by leaving the state of Ihram.

Your Umrah is complete ! (Insha Allah)

The Sunnah method of reciting the Talbiyah is as below, as the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to recite (with four brief pauses).

Talbiyah in the Arabic language is as follows:

????????? ???????? ????????? – ????????? ??? ???????? ???? ????????? – ????? ????????? ????????????? ???? ??????????? – ??? ???????? ????

Labbayka llahumma labbayk(a), labbayka la sharika laka labbayk(a), inna l-?amda wa n-ni’mata, laka wa l-mulk(a), la sharika lak

To understand in English, Talbiyah can be divided into six parts as follow:

Labbayka Allahumma labbayk (Here I am, O Allah! Here I am)
Labbayka la shareeka laka labbayk (Here I am, You have no partner, here I am)
Innal-hamda (Verily, all praise and thanks belong to You)
Wan-ni`mata (Verily, all blessings belong to You)
Laka wal-Mulk (Verily, all sovereignty belongs to You)
La shareeka lak (You have no partner)

1. You must have a valid UK, US, or Schengen States visa.
2. You must have traveled at least once on this valid visa to UK, US, or Schengen States.
3. US, UK, or EU permanent residents (Indian) are also eligible for Saudi Arabia visa-on-arrival
4. You can travel on any airline to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
5. Your passport validity must be six months at the time of entering Saudi Arabia.
6. You should be at least 18 years old. (Underage applicants require a person older than 18 to act as their guardian).
7. The religion of applicants is not relevant.
8. The tourist visa fee on arrival is SAR 480 
9. The Tourist visa fee must be paid in Saudi riyals using an international credit or debit card.
10. The multiple-entry tourist visa is valid for one year from the date of issuance, and the permissible period of stay is 90 days.
11. A tourist visa allows all Muslime to perform umrah and visit the holy city of Makkah and Madinah