Why Visit Saudi Arabia?
There are few countries in the world quite like Saudi Arabia. For more than a billion Muslims it is the spiritual centre of the faith, home to the two holiest cities in Islam. For everyone else it has, until recently, been something of a closed book. That has changed. Over the past few years the Kingdom has opened its doors to visitors, and there has never been a better time to go.
For Muslims in Britain, the pull is deeply personal. Standing before the Kaaba in Makkah, or praying in the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, is the experience of a lifetime, which is why Umrah Packages remain the most popular way for UK families to travel to the Kingdom. Yet Saudi Arabia offers far more than the pilgrimage alone, and many pilgrims now build a little time into their trip to see the country beyond the two holy cities.
Muslims visit Saudi Arabia above all to perform Umrah and Hajj and to pray at the two holiest mosques in Islam, in Makkah and Madinah. Beyond the pilgrimage, the Kingdom offers eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, dramatic desert and mountain scenery, a long Red Sea coastline and a fast-growing range of cultural attractions, and it is now far easier to visit than it has ever been.
The spiritual heart of Islam
For most UK Muslims, this is the reason above all others. Makkah is home to Masjid al-Haram, the largest mosque in the world, and the Kaaba, towards which Muslims everywhere turn in prayer. To perform Tawaf around it, or to complete Umrah, is a moment many people wait their whole lives for.
A short journey away lies Madinah, the city of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), where the Prophet’s Mosque, Masjid an-Nabawi, stands over his resting place. The calm of Madinah is something pilgrims speak about for years afterwards. Together, the two cities are the beating heart of the Muslim world, and no other destination comes close for spiritual meaning.
It has never been easier to visit
Not long ago, visiting Saudi Arabia meant working through a complicated visa process. Today the picture is very different. UK Muslims can travel for Umrah on a dedicated Umrah visa or, in many cases, on a tourist visa that also lets you explore other parts of the country. Women can now perform Umrah without a male guardian, which has opened the journey up to many more people.
There is still some paperwork to get right, including the permits now booked through the official Nusuk system, and this is where a licensed operator earns its keep. Reputable Umrah Visa Services handle the visa, the permits and the bookings together, so you can focus on your worship rather than the admin. If you would rather not wrestle with the process yourself, letting an experienced agent arrange it is by far the simplest route.
Thousands of years of history
Saudi Arabia sits on one of the oldest inhabited corners of the earth, and it now has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites to show for it. The most striking is Hegra, near AlUla, where the Nabataeans, the same civilisation that built Petra in Jordan, carved grand tombs into towering sandstone rock.
Historic Jeddah, known as Al-Balad, is a warren of coral-stone houses and carved wooden balconies that once welcomed pilgrims arriving by sea. At-Turaif in Diriyah, on the edge of Riyadh, is one of the largest mud-brick cities in the world and the birthplace of the first Saudi state. Add the vast Al-Ahsa oasis and ancient rock art in the north, and you have a country with a genuinely remarkable past.
Landscapes that surprise everyone
Most people picture Saudi Arabia as endless desert, and while the Empty Quarter, the largest continuous sand desert on earth, is certainly there, the country is far more varied than that. The Asir mountains in the south-west are green and cool, with terraced villages and mist that rolls over the peaks. The Red Sea coast has some of the clearest, least crowded diving anywhere in the world. And around AlUla, wind and time have sculpted the rock into shapes you will not see anywhere else.
Warm hospitality and wonderful food
Hospitality runs deep in Arabian culture, and visitors are often struck by how welcome they are made to feel. A cup of gahwa, the lightly spiced Arabic coffee, and a handful of dates are the traditional greeting almost everywhere you go. Sit down to a plate of kabsa, the spiced rice and meat dish at the centre of most family meals, and you begin to understand the country through its food.
One trip, two experiences
Perhaps the best reason of all to visit is that you no longer have to choose between worship and travel. Many UK pilgrims now complete their Umrah and then spend a few extra days seeing Jeddah, AlUla or Riyadh before flying home. It turns a spiritual journey into a fuller experience of the country, all without booking a second trip.
When is the best time to go?
The most comfortable months are between November and March, when the days are mild and the evenings cool. The summer is very hot, often above forty degrees, so if you are travelling with children or older relatives, the winter months are far kinder. Ramadan is the most spiritually rewarding time for Umrah, though it is also the busiest and the most expensive.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be Muslim to visit Saudi Arabia?
No. The tourist visa is open to people of all faiths, although the cities of Makkah and Madinah themselves are reserved for Muslims.
Can I visit other cities on an Umrah trip?
Often, yes. Depending on your visa, you can add cities such as Jeddah, AlUla and Riyadh, and a good operator can advise on the right visa for your plans.
Is Saudi Arabia safe for visitors?
It is generally considered very safe, with low crime and a strong tradition of hospitality. As anywhere, ordinary sensible precautions still apply.
When is the best time to perform Umrah?
Any time outside the Hajj period. Winter is the most comfortable, while Ramadan carries the greatest reward but also the largest crowds.
Ready to make the journey?
Whether you are drawn by faith, history or simple curiosity, Saudi Arabia rewards the journey. When you are ready to go, Hajj Umrah Package arranges Hajj and Umrah trips for Muslims across the UK, handling everything from visas and flights to hotels close to the Haram, so your pilgrimage runs smoothly from start to finish.
