Documents and money
- Passport, valid six months beyond arrival, plus two photocopies and a photo of it on your phone
- Umrah visa printout (the PDF from Nusuk, also saved offline in the Meems app)
- Meningitis ACWY yellow certificate, taken at least 10 days before travel
- Flight tickets, hotel vouchers and the group leader's Saudi number, printed
- Six passport photographs, white background, for any re-issue
- SAR 400 to 600 per person in cash for food and small purchases; a forex card or international debit card for the rest
- No more than ₹25,000 in Indian currency: the legal export limit
What men wear: ihram and everyday clothes
Two ihram sets: two unstitched white cloths each, cotton towelling in winter or a lighter weave in summer. Worn from the miqat until halq or taqsir, then packed away; a spare covers a soiled set or a second Umrah from Taneem. A money belt or ihram belt with a zip pocket is essential, since ihram has no pockets. After Umrah, men wear ordinary clothes: three to four thobes or kurta-pyjama sets, one warm layer for Madinah nights between November and February.
| Item | Quantity | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ihram sets | 2 | Buy in India, ₹600 to ₹1,500 |
| Ihram belt with pocket | 1 | Passport, phone, cash |
| Thobes or kurta-pyjama | 3 to 4 | Light cotton |
| Underwear (after ihram only) | 6 | Not worn in ihram |
| Warm layer | 1 | Madinah, November to February |
| Cap | 1 | Not worn in ihram; head stays uncovered |
What women wear for Umrah
There is no special garment for women. Ihram for a woman is her ordinary modest clothing: loose, full-length, not transparent, in any colour. The face and hands remain uncovered in ihram according to most schools; a hijab that does not touch the face, or a cap under it, keeps the fabric off. Black is not required. Pack for walking and heat: breathable cotton, sleeves that stay down when you raise your arms in tawaf, and trousers or a petticoat under an abaya so a gust in the Mataf is not a worry.
| Item | Quantity | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Abayas or long kurtas with trousers | 3 to 4 | Loose, opaque, easy to wash |
| Hijabs | 4 to 5 | Cotton or jersey; pins and an underscarf |
| Prayer dress or jilbab | 1 | For the hotel room and quick mosque visits |
| Socks | 6 pairs | Marble is cold at Fajr, hot at Dhuhr |
| Light shawl | 1 | Mosques are heavily air-conditioned |
| Sanitary products | as needed | Available in Makkah but not always your brand |
Women in their monthly cycle may enter ihram and perform everything except tawaf, which waits until they are clean; the Umrah for women guide covers timing and the mahram rules.
Footwear for Umrah
You will walk 10 to 15 km a day and remove your shoes at every mosque entrance, so the requirement is simple: flat, cushioned, broken-in, and quick to slip on and off. For men in ihram, Hanafi scholars require the top of the foot to be uncovered, so sandals or slippers, not shoes; the other schools require the ankle bone uncovered. After Umrah anything comfortable works. Carry a cloth shoe bag so the pair stays with you inside the Haram rather than at a rack you will not find again at 2 am.
- Men: one pair of sandals for ihram, one pair of closed walking shoes for after
- Women: two pairs, both flat and closed or well strapped; ballet flats without support give blisters by day three
- Both: a pair of rubber slippers for the hotel bathroom, and plasters
Toiletries: unscented until Umrah is complete
Scent breaks ihram, so everything used from the miqat until halq or taqsir must be fragrance-free: soap, shampoo, sunscreen, lip balm, wet wipes. Indian pharmacies sell unscented glycerine soap and baby wipes marked fragrance-free; check the label rather than the brand. After Umrah, use whatever you like; attar is sold on every street in Makkah.
- Unscented soap, shampoo, moisturiser, lip balm and SPF 50 sunscreen
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, small towel, nail cutter (used only after Umrah)
- Fragrance-free wet wipes and hand sanitiser
- Vaseline or anti-chafing balm for men in ihram: the two cloths rub
- Small first-aid pouch: plasters, ORS sachets, paracetamol, an antacid, motion-sickness tablets for the coach
Medicines and health
- Regular medicines in original packaging with the prescription: Saudi customs ask
- Two weeks' supply, not ten days: delays happen
- Diabetics: glucose tablets and a note from the doctor for needles
- Elderly travellers: a folding stool or a lightweight wheelchair booked with Meems in advance; the seniors guide explains the accessible levels
- Reusable water bottle: Zamzam coolers are everywhere in both mosques
Electronics, phone and small essentials
- Type G (UK three-pin) adapter; Saudi sockets are 220 V
- Power bank up to 20,000 mAh (airline limit), charged: you will use maps and the tawaf counter
- Phone with the Meems app installed and your documents downloaded before you fly
- Decide on roaming or a Saudi SIM: STC and Mobily kiosks are in the Jeddah arrivals hall
- Small padlock, a foldable bag for Zamzam and gifts, a pen for immigration cards
- Prayer mat (thin travel type), tasbih, a pocket dua card such as the printable card
- Umbrella or a cap for after Umrah: the Mataf roof is open and Makkah reaches 45 °C in summer
What not to pack
- Scented products for the ihram period, including deodorant and perfumed sunscreen
- A large suitcase: coach luggage bays and hotel rooms in the Haram district are small; one 20 kg bag per person
- Drones, and expensive jewellery you would grieve for in a crowd of two million
- More than ₹25,000 in rupees, or any food that needs refrigeration
- Books you will not read: the Haram has Qurans in every language on every shelf
On the way home you will want space: a sealed 5-litre Zamzam container per person (checked separately on Saudia and flynas), Ajwa dates, and gifts. Pack the outbound bag two-thirds full.
Common questions
What should ladies pack for Umrah?
Three to four loose, full-length outfits such as abayas or long kurtas with trousers, four to five hijabs in breathable cotton, two pairs of comfortable closed walking shoes or sandals, a small cross-body bag for passport and phone, unscented toiletries for the ihram period, sanitary products, and a light shawl for the air-conditioned mosques. Women wear ordinary modest clothing in ihram; there is no special garment.
What shoes are best for Umrah for ladies?
Flat, closed, well-cushioned walking shoes or supportive sandals that slip on and off easily, because you remove them at every mosque entrance. Avoid new shoes; you will walk 10 to 15 km a day. Carry a cloth shoe bag so the pair stays with you inside the Haram rather than at a crowded rack.
How many ihram sets should a man pack?
Two sets. One is worn from the miqat until halq or taqsir; the second is a spare in case the first is soiled or wet, and is useful if you plan a second Umrah from Taneem or Ji'ranah. Buy them in India; they cost ₹600 to ₹1,500 and are the same product sold in Makkah.
Can I carry Zamzam water back to India?
Yes. Saudia and flynas allow one sealed 5-litre Zamzam container per passenger as a separate checked item on flights from Jeddah and Madinah; it is sold packed at the airports. Rules on Indian carriers vary, so confirm with the airline. Zamzam in hand luggage is not allowed beyond the 100 ml liquid limit.
What should you not pack for Umrah?
Scented soap, perfume, deodorant or wet wipes for the ihram period, since scent breaks the state of ihram; drones; large suitcases that will not fit coach luggage bays; more than ₹25,000 in Indian rupees in cash; and anything you would be upset to lose in a crowd of two million people. Pack light and leave room for Zamzam and dates on the way back.