UAE residents can apply for Saudi Arabia’s GCC resident tourist eVisa to perform Umrah outside the Hajj season. The residence-based route is available regardless of nationality, subject to approval and the application conditions. For the usual trip, you need:
- An approved eVisa: the published tourist visa base fee is SAR 300, with compulsory medical insurance and applicable taxes or service charges added at checkout.
- A free Umrah permit, booked in the official Nusuk app.
- A valid meningococcal vaccination certificate, with the required vaccine given at least 10 days before arrival, plus any other health documents that apply to you.
UAE citizens need no visa. Umrah on tourist visas pauses during the Hajj season each year.
Checked on 30 October 2026 against the Visit Saudi visa platform, the Saudi Ministry of Health’s Umrah health requirements and Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announcements. Sources are at the end.
At a glance
| Visa | Saudi GCC resident tourist eVisa (covers Umrah outside the Hajj season) |
| Who can apply | Qualifying UAE residents, with at least 3 months left on residence and 6 months on the passport; accompanying first-degree relatives have a conditional route |
| Cost | SAR 300 base visa fee + mandatory insurance + applicable taxes/service charges; use the live checkout total |
| Validity | The multiple-entry tourist eVisa is normally valid for 1 year; observe its maximum permitted stay of up to 90 days and do not assume each re-entry resets it |
| Umrah permit | Free, booked in the Nusuk app for a time slot |
| Vaccine | Meningococcal ACYW, at least 10 days before arrival |
| 1448 AH season | The published Umrah-visa calendar gives 23 March 2027 as the last entry date; tourist-visa holders must follow their own visa and Hajj-season restrictions |
| UAE citizens | No visa; Nusuk permit and vaccine still needed |
How to go for Umrah from the UAE: step by step
- Check the current health requirements with a UAE travel clinic. If you need a new meningococcal vaccination, allow at least 10 days before arrival and keep a certificate showing its name and date.
- Apply for the GCC resident eVisa through the official platform linked from Visit Saudi. Supply the passport, photo and residence documents requested. Check the accompanying-family option for eligible relatives; each traveller needs their own approved visa.
- Pay online for the visa and compulsory insurance, review the full checkout total and wait for approval. Download the issued visa and check its name, entry validity and permitted stay before committing to travel.
- Install Nusuk, register with your passport and visa details, and book your Umrah permit for a date and time. Book a Rawdah slot in Madinah too if you plan to visit.
- Book flights and a hotel. Fly to Jeddah or Madinah, or drive through Ghuwaifat–Batha.
- Plan for ihram and the miqat. Check where your route crosses the miqat and prepare in advance; ask the airline about its arrangements rather than relying on an announcement.
- Arrive in your permit window and perform Umrah.
Which visa do UAE residents need for Umrah?
| You are | What you need for Umrah |
|---|---|
| UAE or other GCC citizen | No visa. Nusuk permit and vaccine. |
| UAE resident (any nationality) | GCC resident tourist eVisa, plus Nusuk permit and vaccine |
| Family member visiting you in the UAE on a visit visa | A UAE visit visa alone does not qualify. Saudi tourist-visa regulations also cover eligible first-degree relatives accompanying a GCC resident; check the portal’s relationship and accompanying-travel conditions. Otherwise, obtain another suitable Saudi visa. |
| Wanting to perform Hajj | Hajj is not allowed on any tourist or Umrah visa. Book only through a licensed Hajj operator. |
The Saudi tourist-visa regulations include qualifying GCC residents and their accompanying first-degree relatives. Use the current official application to confirm eligibility and required documents. Read more in our Saudi visa guide for UAE residents.
The Nusuk Umrah permit
The visa lets you enter Saudi Arabia. The Nusuk permit books your authorised Umrah date and time. The official Umrah permit service is free. The 1448 season’s permit service opened on 1 June 2026. Check available slots before finalising dates, especially for Ramadan and school holidays.
- Each family member needs their own permit, linked to their passport.
- The Rawdah in Madinah’s Prophet’s Mosque needs a separate Nusuk booking.
- Don’t pay anyone for a “Nusuk permit”. The permit is free.
Vaccines required for Umrah from the UAE
The Saudi Ministry of Health’s currently linked 2026 Umrah guide requires meningococcal vaccination for everyone intending to perform Umrah, from all countries. The document is labelled 1447H (2026); check the latest ministry guidance before travel for any newer season-specific requirements.
| Vaccine | Taken | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| ACYW or ACYWX conjugate | At least 10 days before arrival | 5 years |
| ACYW polysaccharide | At least 10 days before arrival | 3 years |
| Certificate without the vaccine type | At least 10 days before arrival | Treated as 3 years |
Extra vaccines by departure country. Travellers coming from some countries need polio or yellow fever certificates:
- Polio: for example Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
- Yellow fever: for example Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia.
These polio and yellow-fever rules concern arrivals from the listed countries, not nationality alone. A Pakistani passport by itself does not establish a polio-certificate requirement for a traveller coming from the UAE. Ask your travel clinic to check the ministry’s current country lists against your full itinerary and recent travel.
Additional COVID-19 evidence applies to specified higher-risk groups. The currently linked 2026 guide includes people over 65, pregnant women and people with certain chronic illnesses or immune conditions. Check section 1.4 with a travel clinic for the accepted vaccination or recovery evidence and whether updated guidance applies to your travel date.
How much does Umrah cost from the UAE?
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| GCC resident eVisa | SAR 300 base fee, plus mandatory insurance and applicable taxes/service charges; final amount shown by the official portal |
| Nusuk Umrah permit | Free |
| Meningitis vaccine | Clinic price; ask your health centre |
| Flights to Jeddah or Madinah | Varies by season; highest in Ramadan and school holidays |
| Hotels in Makkah and Madinah | Varies by distance from the Haram |
Licensed operators may combine the visa, accommodation and transport in a package. For an independent trip, budget for insurance, any required vaccinations, flights or road costs, hotels, meals and local transport as well as the visa. Compare the inclusions before paying.
When can UAE residents do Umrah?
- 1448 AH season: the ministry’s published calendar opened Umrah visa issuance and arrivals on 31 May 2026, with Nusuk permits from 1 June 2026.
- Published Umrah-visa deadlines: issuance 9 March 2027, entry 23 March 2027 and departure 7 April 2027. These are the announced season dates for Umrah arrivals; check your issued visa and any later ministry updates.
- Hajj season pause: tourist visas do not permit Hajj, and Umrah access is restricted around Hajj. Follow the separately announced permit and Makkah-entry restrictions; do not assume the Umrah-visa calendar alone determines a tourist-visa holder’s allowed travel dates.
A separate multiple-entry Umrah visa was announced on 20 July 2026. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s announcement describes 365-day validity and up to 90 days cumulatively, with an approved service package needed to activate each visit and a Hajj-period suspension. This is a different product from the GCC resident tourist eVisa. Confirm availability and the applicable seasonal restrictions through Nusuk Umrah before choosing it.
Flying or driving to Makkah
Flying to Jeddah or Madinah is usually the quickest option. Driving from the UAE normally uses the Ghuwaifat–Batha crossing before continuing west. Confirm that your visa is accepted at the planned border crossing and check vehicle requirements before departure. Carry:
- Your passport, Emirates ID and eVisa.
- Your driving licence, car registration and Saudi-valid vehicle insurance.
- Any owner, rental-company or lender permission required for your vehicle; confirm cross-border consent before taking a financed, rented or company car.
Mistakes that ruin Umrah trips
- Arriving without a Nusuk permit, or outside your permit time.
- Getting vaccinated less than 10 days before arrival.
- Applying with less than 3 months on your UAE residence.
- Assuming a UAE visit visa is enough for a relative. Check whether the first-degree accompanying-family route applies and obtain a separate Saudi visa approval for every traveller.
- Using an unofficial visa website without checking its fees and whether it is an authorised provider.
- Trying to stay for Hajj on a tourist visa. Fines, deportation and bans apply.
Questions people ask
Can UAE residents do Umrah on a tourist visa?
Yes. The Saudi GCC resident tourist eVisa covers Umrah outside the Hajj season, with a free Umrah permit booked in Nusuk.
How much is the Umrah visa for UAE residents?
The tourist eVisa’s published base fee is SAR 300. Mandatory medical insurance and applicable taxes or service charges increase the total, so use the official portal’s checkout amount rather than a fixed estimate. The Nusuk Umrah permit is free.
Is the meningitis vaccine mandatory for Umrah from Dubai?
Yes. The ministry’s currently linked 2026 guide requires an accepted meningococcal vaccine at least 10 days before arrival: ACYW/ACYWX conjugate within five years, or ACYW polysaccharide within three years. Carry the certificate and check for newer requirements before travel.
Can my parents visiting me in Dubai come for Umrah with me?
Possibly. Saudi tourist-visa regulations include first-degree relatives accompanying an eligible GCC resident, so parents are not automatically excluded merely because they are visiting the UAE. Check the application’s relationship and travel conditions. Each parent still needs a separately approved Saudi visa; a UAE visit visa alone is insufficient.
Do UAE nationals need a visa for Umrah?
No. GCC citizens enter Saudi Arabia without a visa, but still need a Nusuk permit and the vaccine.
Related guides
Sources
- Saudi Ministry of Health: currently linked 1447H (2026) Umrah health requirements and latest pilgrim health guidance.
- Saudi tourist visas: official regulations and base fee, Visit Saudi terms and Ministry of Tourism guidance on GCC resident eligibility.
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: free Nusuk Umrah permit service and Nusuk Umrah packages and visa services.
- Saudi Press Agency: 1448 AH Umrah calendar, 17 May 2026 and new multiple-entry Umrah visa, 20 July 2026.
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer, a religious scholar or a travel agent, and Sifqa does not sell Umrah packages or process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 30 October 2026. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com and it will be fixed and logged.