Makkah Is Officially Open for Umrah
Hajj season has closed, Nusuk permits are live, and the doors are open again - just as the city heads into its cheapest, quietest months.
Published 1 June 2026
Hajj season has drawn to a close. As we pass the 13th of Dhul Hijjah, most of the Hujjaj have completed their farewell tawaf, and many have already departed from Makkah. Some have returned home; others have continued onward to Madinah.
And the closing of one season coincides with the opening of another. Nusuk permits officially went live on 31 May, with slots now available to book through the Nusuk app. For everyone who has been longing to visit Makkah and hasn't been able to in recent weeks, the doors are open again.
July: the cheapest month to come
It's worth highlighting that July is the cheapest month of the year to visit Makkah. Our Makkah Hotel Price Index shows July offering the best hotel rates of the entire year, currently about a third of the Ramadan peak in February.
It goes without saying that July is also one of the hottest months of the year, something the index tracks alongside price. If you're willing to brave the summer heat and you're set on making that Umrah trip, this is your window. Coming off the back of roughly 1.7 million Hajj pilgrims in Makkah, the summer months host far smaller volumes by comparison, with shorter waits and more room to move as you make your way to and from the Haram.
The season runs to March 2027
The authorities have confirmed that the Umrah season will remain open through to 23 March 2027. If you're planning further ahead for next year, keep that date in mind: 23 March 2027 is the last entry date into the Kingdom on an Umrah visa. Those who manage to enter by then will need to leave by 7 April 2027 - the same two-week gap between last entry and last exit that we saw this year.
Key dates
- Nusuk permits live: 31 May 2026
- Last entry (Umrah visa): 23 March 2027
- Last exit: 7 April 2027
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